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 previously thought), thereby making a revolution in the history of psychological thought. With the development of psychoanalytic ideas, a person who is assessed as a person from the standpoint of activity and autonomy suddenly becomes dependent on his own fears, complexes and, most unexpectedly, animal instincts. Accordingly, in spite of any evolutionary processes and scientific and technological achievements, the freedom of a person’s mental activity will always be limited by a certain natural conditionality, called the unconscious.
Mental activity in psychoanalysis
All mental activity of a personality in psychoanalysis is considered from the point of view of 3 positions:
1. Topical position (mental structure of personality): there are three areas of mental activity - conscious, unconscious and preconscious.
2. Dynamic position (movement, development of mental energy): the repressed part of mental activity becomes unconscious.
3. Economic (balance / imbalance system): the alternation of mental stress / relaxation processes depending on the manifestation of drives and the possibility of satisfying them.
In relation to the unconscious, within the framework of these schools and directions, such aspects as the role of the unconscious in the process of mental activity are considered; the boundaries of the control of consciousness over the unconscious; differentiation of the results of the action of the unconscious is normal from pathology, etc. The main advantage of all psychological directions, focused on the study of what is the unconscious component of the psyche, is a high assessment of its significance in the process of human life, as well as the solution of problems associated with this structure, not by “fighting” it or “blocking” it, but by deeply studying its laws.
General personality structure
In relation to the structure of the personality, the unconscious represents the central part of the psyche (which is the source of mental energy for the entire mental activity of the subject) and contains a system of all the unique complexes and personality traits received by him at birth. Freud designates this structure as Eid (It). In addition to the unconscious, the structure of the personality is composed of the conscious Ego (I) and superconsciousness, the Super-Ego (Super-I).
Instinctive structure of the unconscious
At the core of the unconscious, Freud identifies instincts that can be both physical in nature (needs) and psychic (desires). In turn, the structure of instincts includes 4 components - the goal, source, impulse, object. The goal of instinct is aimed at satisfying (or weakening) the need / desire; the object is an object (action) satisfying a need / desire; the impulse is the energy (force, tension) necessary to satisfy the need / desire. 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 fluid, as well as actions aimed at obtaining it;
- goal: getting rid of thirst (from a physiological point of view - relieving / reducing stress caused by dehydration of the body);
- impulse: energy, increasing tension, aimed at satisfying thirst.
Mental imbalance in the system of "conscious - unconscious"
A synonym for this imbalance is the concept of conflict. It arises due to the incompatibility of the requirements of the Eid and 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 personality itself. 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.
Within the framework of the psychoanalytic school, the conscious component of the psyche is only a very insignificant part of it (the tip of the iceberg), the unconscious is the dominant of the personality’s mental activity.
Unconscious drives are in conflict with the norms of culture and morality. The process of establishing equilibrium in the system of "conscious - unconscious" is the basis of the psychosocial development of personality. Achieving this balance is achieved through the inclusion of mental
protective mechanisms.