Explain how the terms "unconscious" and "repression" are used in Freud's theory.

A: The terms " unconscious" and "repression" are used in this theory as it consists of painful or unsettling events being repressed in a person's unconscious state of mind.

Go into detail about the meaning of repressed.

A: The terms " unconscious" and "repression" are used in this theory as it consists of painful or unsettling events being repressed, or hidden, in a person's unconscious state of mind.

To understand how these terms are used in Freud's theory, it is important to consider his psychodynamic approach to psychology. According to Freud, the mind is composed of three parts: the conscious, the preconscious, and the unconscious.

The conscious mind involves thoughts, feelings, and perceptions that we are aware of in the present moment. The preconscious mind contains information that is not currently in our awareness but can be easily accessed when needed, such as memories.

The unconscious mind, on the other hand, holds thoughts, desires, and memories that are not accessible to our conscious awareness. These are often repressed, meaning they are pushed down into the unconscious, out of our conscious awareness.

Freud believed that repression occurs when individuals have experiences or desires that are deemed unacceptable, immoral, or anxiety-provoking. These experiences or desires may be related to traumatic events, childhood experiences, or forbidden thoughts and desires.

The concept of repression suggests that these unacceptable thoughts or memories are actively kept out of consciousness to avoid anxiety or distress. These repressed thoughts may still influence our behavior and feelings, even though we are not consciously aware of them.

For example, let's say an individual experiences a traumatic event in childhood, such as abuse. To defend against the overwhelming anxiety and distress associated with the event, the mind may repress or push down the memories and associated emotions into the unconscious. This repression prevents the individual from consciously remembering the event, but it may still impact their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in various ways.

In Freud's theory, the unconscious is seen as a reservoir of repressed thoughts, desires, and memories that have a significant influence on our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. The process of bringing these repressed contents into conscious awareness is known as psychoanalysis, which involves exploring and analyzing the unconscious mind to gain insights into these hidden aspects of ourselves.

In summary, in Freud's theory, the terms "unconscious" and "repression" are used to describe the part of the mind that contains thoughts, desires, and memories that are not accessible to conscious awareness. Repression is the mechanism through which unacceptable or anxiety-provoking thoughts and experiences are pushed down into the unconscious, influencing our behaviors and feelings without our conscious awareness.