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Tuesday, December 12, 2017

Freud's Theory of the Unconscious Installment #2

           Sigmund Freud's theory of the unconscious is highly deterministic. He was one of the first if not the first thinker to use "deterministic principles systematically to the sphere of the mental," and to claim that human behavior is explainable only by mental processes or states that determine it. Therefore, he treated the neurotic as "behavior for which it is meaningful to seek an explanation by searching for causes in terms of the mental states of the individual concerned." Freud said obsessive behavior and dreams are determined by hidden reasons in the person's mind and that they show in "covert form" what we otherwise would not know about at all. This follows that when making a choice, we are being controlled by hidden mental processes that we are unaware of.
unconscious mind            One of Freud's main contributions to psychology was his topographical model of the mind. Freud used the analogy of an iceberg to show the three levels of the mind: the conscious, the preconscious, and the unconscious. The surface of the iceberg is the conscious. The conscious is made up of all the mental processes we are aware of. The preconscious is the part of the iceberg that is right below the water but is still visible. It consists of the thoughts that a person is not currently thinking about, but can easily remember. Lastly, the unconscious is the part of the iceberg that is submerged deep in the water and cannot be seen. The unconscious is the most significant region and houses the processes that are the real cause of most behavior. Freud said through the process of repression, some information that is too painful or frightening to acknowledge gets locked away into the unconscious mind. 
            Freud is the father of psychoanalysis and the goal of it is to make the unconscious conscious. For Freud, an unconscious mental process is not something that goes out of consciousness at a given time. He says it cannot be brought to the forefront of consciousness except through protracted psychoanalysis. This suggests that the mind cannot be "identified with consciousness or an object of consciousness."
id ego and superego            Freud went on to apply the conscious, preconscious, and unconscious to his structure of personality which encompassed the id, ego, and superego. The id (it) is the instinctive component of personality. It consists of the inherited traits of personality including the sex (Eros) instinct and the death (Thanatos) instinct. A newborn child encompasses the id personality. The id functions never change and remain infantile. It operates on the pleasure principle.
            The ego (I) according to Freud is 'that part of the id which has been modified by the direct influence of the external world.' It is the personality's decision-making component. The ego seeks pleasure and avoids pain. It operates on the reality principle.
            The superego (above I) contains the "conscience" and the ideal self. It controls the id's impulses such as sex and aggression. In addition, the superego persuades the ego to strive for perfection and moralistic goals.
            Sigmund Freud's many theories made him a man to be remembered.
          Sources: https://www.simplypsychology.org/Sigmund-Freud.html
                          https://www.simplypsychology.org/psyche.html
Link to First Installment:
http://cophilosophy.blogspot.com/2017/11/sigmund-freud-installment-1.html
Comment to Philosophy of Vegetarianism Post:
I too am a vegetarian. I became a vegetarian over 11 years ago. You mentioned watching documentaries that led you to become a vegetarian and that's the same reason my sister became one about a year ago. For me, I do not eat meat because it grosses me out and I never really loved the taste. I still eat food that is made with eggs but it grosses me out to eat just plain eggs. The same goes for dairy milk. I could never be a vegan though. I love cheese too much. I have a soft spot in my heart for animals. At one point, I was set on being a veterinarian but could not stomach to have to euthanize an animal. I think the way they slaughter these animals is inhumane and should make one feel sick letting it happen. There is no doubt in my mind that I will always be a vegetarian. It is an easy lifestyle for me and I do not miss meat at all.
Comment to Pessimism Post:
I think I lean more to the pessimist side. I like to think worse case scenario so I can prepare myself for what might could happen. I have always had anxiety and I think it is because I tend to be pessimistic. But I rather live realistically than to live with my head in the clouds and have no clue as to what is really going on in the world. I think even optimists are having a hard time staying optimistic considering the way the world is going these days. It is just easier being a pessimist.

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