The idea of unconscious mental processes is documented as far back as 2,500 BCE, and the philoso- pher Shelling brought that idea back to Europe in the year 1800. In the second half of the 19th century Charcot and the French psychologists around him studying hysteria and hypnosis, found actual proof of the effect of unconscious ideation on the body. There were differing positions regarding the extent of this ‘suggestibility’. Positions were taken, with a biasing impact on the development of Western psychology. Not until Lacan in the 1970s was the ‘other side’ of suggestibility even addressed.
All theories and descriptions of the unconscious have validity, as facets of the same phenomenon. We all know it is dynamic, actively influencing our feelings, thoughts and behaviors in the most subtle and devious ways. Myriads of studies from experimental psychology, neuroscience, cognitive science and eco- nomics show up unconscious influences, evaluative and decision making processes, affect driven choices and more. So not only do we have a dynamic unconscious, we have a powerful associative one as a part of our inner working model. We will delve into these complexities to gain an appreciation of the power of the big mass of the unknown to greatly affect our consciously lived lives, for better and worse.
This course is experiential as well as theoretical. Our main goal is to sensitize us to the manifestations of the unconscious in ourselves and others, not just in the clinic, but everywhere. Movies, television, Face- book and tweets and any and every interaction we have, with neighbors, children and grocers. Listen to the ‘popups’, stuff that floats unbidden into a brief moment of consciousness.