Hello, I’m João Barros, a psychoanalyst in love with understanding how the human mind works. In this article, we will explore the concept of consciousness and its importance in the psychic economy. The conscious is that part of our mind that is aware of the present, our thoughts, feelings and sensations. It is the window to the outside and inner world, allowing us to perceive and interpret the information we receive.
Introduction to the conscious
The conscious is one of the three instances of the psychic structure, along with the unconscious and the pre-conscious. It represents the most accessible and immediate part of our subjective experience. Throughout the day, our conscious is constantly processing sensory, emotional and cognitive information, allowing us to sail the world effectively.
Imagine that you are driving a car. Your conscious is aware of the road, weather conditions, traffic and traffic rules. It processes all this information to ensure safe and efficient driving. This illustrates as well as the conscious works in practice.
Conscious functions
Among the main functions of the conscious, we highlight the perception, attention and the short-term memory. Perception allows us to capture the world around us, interpreting sensory stimuli such as vision, hearing, touch, taste and smell. Attention, in turn, filters up the relevant information, allowing us to focus on certain tasks or stimuli.
Short -term memory is responsible for temporarily storing information being processed. For example, when you need to remember a phone number for a few seconds before dialing it, you are using your short-term memory.
Conscious limitations
Despite being a powerful tool, the conscious has its limitations. One of them is the processing capacity. Our conscious mind can deal with only a limited amount of information at the same time. This explains why, when we are overloaded with many simultaneous tasks, we can feel stressed or confused.
Another important limitation is the influence of the unconscious. Often our decisions and actions are influenced by unconscious factors, of which we are not aware. This can lead to contradictory or impulsive behaviors, demonstrating how the conscious has no full control over our choices.
Interconnection with the unconscious and the pre-conscious
The conscious does not operate in isolation; He is constantly interacting with the unconscious and the pre-conscious. The pre-conscious acts as a kind of “guardian” of information, allowing them to be accessed by the conscious when necessary. The unconscious contains desires, memories, and repressed conflicts that can influence our thoughts and behaviors in a subtle way.
This interconnection is crucial to understanding how our past experiences and instinctive impulses shape our perceptions and actions in the present. For example, repressed infant trauma can affect our ability to trust others in adulthood, even if we are not aware of it.
Understanding this dynamic is essential for self -knowledge and personal development. By recognizing the influences of the unconscious and the pre-conscious in our lives, we can start working with them more consciously, promoting greater psychic balance.
Conclusion: Exploring the potential of the conscious
In short, the conscious plays a vital role in our psychic economy, allowing us to navigate the world effectively and make informed decisions. However, it is important to recognize its limitations and the influence of other psychic instances. By exploring and understanding these dynamics better, we can cultivate greater self-knowledge and well-being.
Whether through mindfulness practice, reflection on our thoughts and feelings or engagement in psychological therapies, there are several ways to develop a more harmonious relationship with our conscious. In doing so, we can maximize its potential and live more authentic and full lives.
