The idea of the unconscious as an integral part of human nature in the history of philosophical and scientific research arose long before the birth of classical psychoanalysis. However, it is Sigmund Freud who proves the idea of the dominance of the unconscious structures of the human psyche over the conscious structure (and not vice versa, as was previously thought), thereby making a revolution in the history of psychological thought. With the development of psychoanalytic ideas, a person, evaluated as a person, from the standpoint of activity and autonomy, suddenly falls under the dependence of his own fears, complexes, and, most unexpectedly, animal instincts. Accordingly, despite any evolutionary processes and scientific and technological achievements, the freedom of human mental activity will always be limited by a certain natural conditioning, called the unconscious.
Psychic activity in psychoanalysis
All mental activity of a person in psychoanalysis is considered from the point of view of 3 positions:
1. Topical position (psychic structure of personality): three spheres of mental activity are distinguished - conscious, unconscious and preconscious.
2. Dynamic position (movement, development of mental energy): the repressed part of mental activity acquires an unconscious character.
3. Economic (system of balance / imbalance): alternation of processes of mental tension / relaxation, depending on the manifestation of drives and the possibility of satisfying them.
With regard to the unconscious within the framework of these schools and trends, aspects such as the role of the unconscious in the process of mental activity are considered; limits of control of consciousness over the unconscious; differentiation of the results of the action of the unconscious in the norm from pathology, etc. The main advantage of all psychological areas focused on the study of the question of what the unconscious component of the psyche is is a high assessment of its significance in the process of human life, as well as solving problems associated with this structure, not by "fighting" it or "blocking" it, but by studying its patterns in depth.
General personality structure
With regard to the structure of the personality, the unconscious is the central part of the psyche (which is the source of mental energy for all mental activity of the subject) and contains a systemall the unique complexes and personality traits that he receives at birth. Freud refers to this structure as the Id (It). In addition to the unconscious, the structure of the personality is made up of the conscious Ego (I) and the superconscious, the Super-Ego (Super-I).
Instinctive Structure of the Unconscious
At the basis of the unconscious, Freud identifies instincts that can be both physical (needs) and mental (desires). In turn, the structure of instincts includes 4 components - purpose, source, impulse, object. The purpose of the instinct is aimed at satisfying (or weakening) the needs / desires; the object is an object (action) that satisfies the need / desire; the energy (strength, tension) necessary to satisfy the need / desire acts as an impulse. For example, the manifestation of instinct (as an unconscious element) - this may be the behavior of a person who is thirsty:
- source: fluid requirement (due to dehydration);
- object: the necessary liquid, as well as actions aimed at obtaining it;
- goal: getting rid of thirst (from a physiological point of view - the removal / reduction of tension caused by dehydration);
- impulse: energy, growing tension, aimed at satisfying thirst.
Mental imbalance in the "conscious - unconscious" system
Synonymous with this imbalance is the concept of conflict. It arises due to the incompatibility of the requirements of the id and the ego. The activity of the conscious component of the psyche can be disturbed in those cases when the unconscious component begins to exert its influence. This confrontation between consciousness and the unconscious is not realized by the person himself. The basis of classical psychoanalysis is the idea of the irreducibility of the psyche to consciousness; an attempt is being made to explore the unconscious part of the psyche - the unconscious.
In the framework of the psychoanalytic school, the conscious component of the psyche is only a very small part of it (the tip of the iceberg), the unconscious is the dominant mental activity of the individual.
Unconscious drives are in conflict with the norms of culture and morality. The process of establishing balance in the "conscious - unconscious" system is the basis of the psychosocial development of the individual. Achieving this balance is carried out by turning on mental defense mechanisms.
