• Describe consciousness
• Understand blindsight

consciousness

Consciousness describes our awareness of internal and external stimuli. Awareness of internal stimuli includes feeling pain, hunger, thirst, sleepiness, and being aware of our thoughts and emotions. Awareness of external stimuli includes seeing the light from the sun, feeling the warmth of a room, and hearing the voice of a friend.

We experience different states of consciousness and different levels of awareness on a regular basis. We might even describe consciousness as a continuum that ranges from full awareness to deep sleep. Sleep is a state marked by relatively low levels of physical activity and reduced sensory awareness that is distinct from periods of rest that occur during wakefulness. Wakefulness is characterized by high levels of sensory awareness, thought, and behavior.

Beyond being awake or asleep, there are many other states of consciousness people experience. These include daydreaming, intoxication, and unconsciousness due to anesthesia. We might also experience unconscious states of being via drug-induced anesthesia for medical purposes. Often, we are not completely aware of our surroundings, even when we are fully awake. For instance, have you ever daydreamed while driving home, or navigating your way somewhere, without really thinking about the journey itself? You were capable of engaging in all of the complex tasks involved with operating a motor vehicle or getting on the right bus even though you were not aware of doing so. Many of these processes, like much of psychological behavior, are rooted in our biology.

The subconscious and unconscious are both terms used to describe mental states that operate below the level of conscious awareness.

subconscious and unconscious

The subconscious refers to mental processes and information that are not in conscious awareness but can be easily brought to awareness with some attention or stimuli. For example, habits, emotions, and automatic movements are examples of subconscious mental processes.

 

In contrast, the unconscious refers to mental processes and information that are inaccessible to conscious awareness. These processes are typically believed to be driven by deeper psychological forces such as repressed emotions, unresolved conflicts, or unconscious motivations. Freudian psychoanalysis theory suggests that the unconscious is the primary source of human behavior, where impulses, instincts, and desires operate outside of conscious awareness.

The distinction between the subconscious and unconscious is not always clear, and the two terms are sometimes used interchangeably. However, generally, the subconscious is considered to be a less deep level of processing, whereas the unconscious is a deeper and more fundamental level of mental processing.