The unconscious mind and behavioral guidance systems

Unconscious Mind

There has been significant debate over the existence of both the conscious and subconscious brain. The subconscious is that part of the human brain which an individual has little or even no conscious perception. The subconscious is very well present under the conscious awareness' surface. Unconscious phenomena include, but they are not limited to, of-the-cuff remarks and jokes, phobias expressed via dreams or other symbolic forms, automatic responses and reactions, habits, as well as repressed feelings. There are those who have in the past presented arguments against the existence of the subconscious part of the brain - arguing that actions like sleep walking, dreaming, etc. may just be symptoms of unconscious processes and that the subconscious part of the brain does not exist at all.

Discussion

According to Bargh and Morsella (2008), the unconscious processes of the human brain are no longer regarded mysteries -- as was the case a few years ago. As the authors further point out, the subconscious part of the brain actually exists and there are two stages of what they refer to as the 'human version of unconscious behavioral guidance systems' i.e. stimulus-response. The very first stage, as the authors point out, comprises of "the automatic activation of the mediating system by external stimulus"; with the second step comprising of the system's effect on behavior. It is important to note that both instances could inform unconscious operation, with the conscious guide playing no active role. To support their research they came up with diagram below.

Figure 1

Step 1 Step 2

MOTIVATIONAL

SYSTEM

BEHAVIORAL RESPONSES

ENVIRONMENTAL

STIMULI

EMOTIONAL SYSTEM

PERPETUAL SYSTEM

EVALUATIVE SYSTEM

Source:

Fig 1 showing unconscious behavioral guidance system. Step 1 shows distinct internal information processing system activation. Step 2 shows the automatic influences.

Step 1

According to Bargh and Mosella ( 2008), the unconscious mental system is activated by external, perpetual, motivational, evaluative and emotional stimuli. This is an entirely automatic process.

Step 2

The result of environmental stimuli which can be in the form of emotions, evaluation, and motivations, will result in certain behaviors, e.g. impulses that are largely imitative, and that are brought about by other persons' perceived behaviors. These are activated throughout an individual's life, resulting in tendencies that come about by default amongst adults and children. People acting in a certain way or exhibiting some kind of behavior will trigger those around them to act in a similar way. For instance, in church while others are kneeling, one will most likely automatically kneel even if they are thinking about something else.