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stranger
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stranger
Joined: Apr 2008
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The word "unconscious" seems to be used more frequently in the stead of "subconscious" which really bugs me. I hear it used this way by public speakers, such as politicians and news reporters. To me unconscious means comatose and subconscious means daydreaming. So it bothers me when someone says, "they were thinking unconsciously" about something. It doesn't seem that you could recall what you were thinking about when you were comatose. Am I crazy? Now that unconscious is being used this way popularly, does that mean that we should accept a new meaning?
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Joined: Apr 2000
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542 |
when I was first introduced to Psychology as a discipline (ha!), the subconscious mind was often spoken of. but this term was dropped soon thereafter in favor of unconscious due, I gather, to the ambiguity of the former term.
Faldo may well have something to say about this.
-joe (ambiguity is our fremd) friday
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Joined: Jun 2006
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295 |
Faldo may have to say something better, but the whole misinterpreation in this usage I think is : you can do things unconsciously but you cannot think unconsciously.
You can make gestures unconsciously, hum a tune unconsciously
(you cannot really hum a tune subconsciously).
Unconciously means, not being aware, doesn't it? It doesn 't mean you are comatuous.
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Joined: Jun 2002
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210 |
I still use the two words appropriately.
I think.
formerly known as etaoin...
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Joined: Feb 2008
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old hand
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old hand
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,067 |
I don't think you can think subconsciously or unconsciously,if the definition of thinking involves higher cognitive functioning where we are aware of what we are thinking.
Sub- means below the level of, and un- mean not. Subconscious actions or functions are those that you are not aware of, or not fully aware of, such as your emotional reaction to someone's body language that leaves you with an uneasy feeling about them, or your observing of things that you see, hear, smell, touch or taste that are incidental to the main thing you are consciously focussing on and your brain stores away somewhere but without your higher recognition of it.
Interesting tests are done with people with split hemispheres or ordinary people looking at two different scenes with each eye that show that the brain can register and respond to things apart from our knowing about it. That is subconscious. But 'unconscious' or 'not conscious' can sometimes be used in this way too. As in "he was not conscious of the effects of his behaviour..." or "she was unconsciously conveying a sense of superiority over her workmates..."
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Joined: Dec 2000
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
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I think The Pook has it pretty well down.
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Joined: Jun 2006
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2006
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Which is basically more elaborately what I said too, but don't ask for credits and you'll never have debts.
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 876
old hand
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old hand
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 876 |
Here's how I've always used them:
unconscious: The brain's state when a person is not awake.
subconscious: The part of the brain an awake person does not actively engage, but which can influence, or even take over, conscious thought and action. It's a bit like instinct.
I admit I usually use unconscious as an adjective, and subconscious as a noun. :0)
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Joined: Jun 2002
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2002
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I admit I usually use unconscious as an adjective, and subconscious as a noun. :0) subconsciously, I do, too.
formerly known as etaoin...
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old hand
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old hand
Joined: Feb 2008
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And apparently consciously, also! ;0)
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