In the first of our new series Unconscious Processes and Dissociation we are looking at theories about the unconscious mind. I am going to look at three main groups: classical psychoanalysis, Jung’s analytical psychology, and modern cognitive ideas about the “adaptive” unconscious. While they all agree that much of our mental life operates outside awareness, they differ in how they define what the unconscious contains and how it functions.
Freud and Psychoanalysis
Freud described the unconscious as a system filled with hidden wishes, conflicts, and memories which are kept out of awareness by defence mechanisms such as repression. He introduced two key models: one dividing the mind into conscious, preconscious, and unconscious levels; and another describing internal structures — the id, ego, and superego. In his view, the unconscious id drives behaviour and influences dreams, slips of the tongue, and symptoms of psychological distress. By studying these and working to understand them problematic behaviours can be changed.
Jung and the Collective Unconscious
Jung accepted Freud’s idea of a personal unconscious but expanded it to include a deeper layer — the collective unconscious. This, he argued, holds universal patterns and symbols shared by all humanity. For Jung, dreams and myths express these archetypes, and personal growth involves bringing unconscious material into awareness — a process he called individuation.
Later Psychodynamic Theories
Later developments in psychoanalytic thought kept the idea of the unconscious but placed more emphasis on early relationships and experiences in constructing it. These approaches explore how unconscious expectations about ourselves and others, often formed in childhood, shape how we relate to people in the present. Therapy often helps uncover and work through these patterns.
The unconscious today
Modern psychology builds on these theories and develops a different perspective. While the unconscious might act as a store of memories and experiences which can influence behaviour even though we are not aware of them it has another aspect. These are the fast, automatic processes that operate outside awareness. These processes allow us to perceive, decide, and act efficiently — for instance, by recognising faces, reading social cues, or learning motor skills without deliberate thought. Some argue that, even though these processes appear automatic they are structured by our history, culture and beliefs.
Most psychologists now agree that unconscious processes strongly influence behaviour and can be studied scientifically. However, there is still debate about whether a “repressed” unconscious, as Freud described, Is central. There is much debate about how much of our behaviour comes from hidden motives versus automatic cognitive routines.
The term “adaptive unconscious” describes a set of rapid, effortless mental processes that help us navigate the world efficiently. These processes scan our surroundings, assess situations, and guide our initial reactions before we even think about them consciously.
This adaptive system helps us detect patterns, make quick judgments, assess threats, and automate familiar skills. Examples include instantly forming an impression of someone, hitting the brakes in traffic, or performing a well-learned action without conscious effort.
It’s considered adaptive because evolution favoured fast, reliable responses in situations where pausing to think might have been dangerous. By handling routine decisions and reactions automatically, our unconscious mind frees conscious thought for more complex or creative tasks.
The same speed that makes the adaptive unconscious useful can also lead to mistakes — such as stereotypes or implicit biases. Because it relies on learned patterns, it sometimes repeats outdated or incorrect responses unless we bring them into awareness and consciously adjust them. Traumatic experiences can seed themselves in the mind and lead to maladaptive behaviour.
Unlike Freud’s version, which focused on repressed desires and conflicts, the adaptive unconscious is seen as a set of efficient mental routines that can be studied through psychological experiments. Much of our goal-setting, evaluation, and decision-making happens within these automatic systems rather than through deliberate thought alone.
Understanding this can help the therapist identify behaviour patterns which are positive or negative. It is then possible to address the beliefs and behaviours which can strengthen behaviour which helps the client or those things which are not helping the client.
Get in Touch
I hope this has helped clarify these issues—and perhaps inspired curiosity for further exploration. If you’d like me to cover a particular topic or expand on any aspect, please feel free to get in contact.
Coming Next
In the next post of this series on Unconscious Processes and Dissociation, we’ll look at Dissociation in Hypnosis.