What is the “unconscious”?
The unconscious is composed of many mental processes, wishes, needs, attitudes, memories, and beliefs not directly available to ordinary awareness. It is hard for many people to accept the idea of the unconscious, the idea that something not under their direct control might influence their lives. However, close examination shows that many choices in life such as spouse, friends, career, life style, and patterns of health are based upon motivations of which people are not ordinarily aware. Difficult childhood experience for instance, although relegated to the unconscious, can still control day-to-day behavior. Handicapped by lack of awareness of the unconscious motivations, people can become victimized by emotional reactions and symptoms that inhibit their lives. Psychoanalytic therapy allows a patient to become aware of these unknown mental processes through behavior, slips of the tongue, dreams, and free associations.
