The Unconscious Mind - Yale University.pdfVIP

PERSPECTIVES ON PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE The Unconscious Mind John A. Bargh and Ezequiel Morsella Yale University ABSTRACT— The unconscious mind is still viewed by many This research, in contrast with the cognitive psychology tradi- psychological scientists as the shadow of a ‘‘real’’ con- tion, has led to the view that the unconscious mind is a perva- scious mind, though there now exists substantial evidence sive, powerful influence over such higher mental processes that the unconscious is not identifiably less flexible, com- (see review in Bargh, 2006). plex, controlling, deliberative, or action-oriented than is And, of course, the Freudian model of the unconscious is still its counterpart. This ‘‘conscious-centric’’ bias is due in with us and continues to exert an influence over how many part to the operational definition within cognitive psy- people think of ‘‘the unconscious,’’ especially outside of psy- chology that equates unconscious with subliminal. We re- chological science. Freud’s model of the unconscious as the view the evidence challenging this restricted view of the primary guiding influence over daily life, even today, is more unconscious emerging from contemporary social cognition specific and detailed than any to be found in contemporary research, which has traditionally defined the unconscious cognitive or social psychology. However, the data from which in terms of its unintentional nature; this research has Freud developed the model were individual case studies in- demonstrated the existence of several independent un- volving abnormal thought and behavior (Freud, 1925/1961, p. conscious behavioral