Structure of consciousness

The structure of consciousness is quite complex - in connection with the fact that the phenomenon of consciousness itself is ambiguous. This circumstance was first noticed by Sigmund Freud. The thinker first introduced into circulation the term "pre-consciousness" - to establish a mutual connection between the unconscious processes conditioned by mental activity and the human consciousness. But then Freud abandoned this notion. In his subsequent work, he proposed a new structure of the psyche: the unconscious - consciousness - the superconscious.

Its foundation (according to Freud) consists of unconscious processes, which are certain impulses of the energy of the psyche, specific aspirations and desires of people. The structure of consciousness does not include all these factors. They, in turn, have an intention, that is, they strive to be immediately satisfied. Unconscious processes, outside of consciousness, do not have contact with the outside world. Such processes, as a rule, include sensory experiences and sudden impulses of knowledge, which displace the structure of consciousness. Freud believed that all of these phenomena depend on the expression of the psychic energy of sexual desire - libido. Thus, the thinker came to the conclusion that the unconscious is the cause of spiritual slavery of people.

Psychic activity, as Freud believed, includes the "I" - the part that a person is able to regulate and control. The structure of consciousness allows us to construct different programs of behavior, to anticipate the final results, to reflect the external world.

In some ways, the "I" is the mediator between "It" (the unconscious) and the outside world, between passions and attraction on the one hand and their satisfaction on the other. At the same time, the mechanism of realization is not the desire of man, but his moral duty.

The third component of the psyche, Freud believed superconsciousness ("Super-I"). These are products that are developed by the culture for consciousness. In particular, they include social norms, traditions, a certain system of prohibitions and rules. All this man acquires, with all this he has to reckon with in the performance of his activities. According to Freud, "Super-I" in consciousness is manifested in the form of conscience. That is, this component causes a person a sense of guilt, shame, etc.

As a result, Freud came to the conclusion that the excessive pressure of "Super-I" (as a moral public censor) contributes to the formation of an inferior personality, deforms it, leading a person to an illusory world. The pressure exerted by the "Super-I" from the side, to some extent, provokes the strengthening of the power of the unconscious. In this case, the unconscious begins to go beyond the conscious influence on him from the side of the "I". In this connection, Freud believed, one should look for the optimal form in which "Ono" and "Superego" will be combined.

What is the structure of consciousness proposed by other authors?

A number of researchers distinguish four aspects.

The first is connected with the activity of a person, on the basis of which the primary knowledge of the surrounding world arises. In this case, forms of cognition are used, such as representation, perception, sensation.

The second aspect is connected with rational thinking. The main direction in this case is the comprehension of the essence of material reality. For this, inferences, concepts, and judgments are used.

The third aspect is the sphere of subjective psychological, personal experiences. The emotional component does not have direct connections with the surrounding world.

The fourth aspect is the value-motivational element. It is understood as the higher motives, spiritual ideals of a person, his ability to think creatively of reality in the form of intuition, imagination, fantasy.

The epistemological system of consciousness provides that the views of the subjects are knowledge reflecting, in varying degrees, different aspects of human activities, including those related to power. In this case, various issues are considered. The structure of political consciousness includes such elements as ideology and the psychology of power. Each component has its own special meaning.