The study of the unconscious has been a central topic in modern psychology, since it plays a fundamental role in understanding the human mind and our actions. Sigmund Freud, the father of psychoanalysis, was one of the first to explore the depths of the unconscious and to develop theories that have influenced psychology to this day.
The importance of the unconscious
The unconscious, in general terms, refers to all those ideas, thoughts, desires, emotions and memories that are outside a person's immediate awareness, but that influence their behavior. and in his way of seeing the world. Throughout the history of psychology, it has been shown that much of our behavior and decisions are controlled by mental processes of which we are not aware.
Freud, in his studies on the unconscious , postulated the existence of psychic laws that govern its functioning and that largely determine our way of thinking, feeling and acting. These laws, known as "the 4 laws of the unconscious", are fundamental to better understand the complex world of the human mind.
1. Law of the existence of the unconscious
The first law of the unconscious establishes that it exists and that it has an active role in our psychic life. Although we are not aware of it, the unconscious is constantly working, processing information, repressed desires, past traumas and internal conflicts. This law reminds us that much of who we are and what we do is determined by hidden forces that operate in the depths of our mind.
Psychoanalysis has demonstrated over the years the relevance of this law, by revealing how dreams, failed acts, slips of the tongue and other psychic phenomena are manifestations of unconscious processes that seek to express themselves in some way in consciousness. Ignoring the existence of the unconscious would be losing sight of a fundamental part of our psyche and limiting our capacity for self-understanding and change.
2. Law of repression and resistance
The second law of the unconscious refers to repression, a mechanism through which certain painful or conflicting thoughts, emotions or memories are removed from consciousness and relegated to the unconscious. Repression is a defensive process that aims to protect our psychic integrity and avoid the discomfort that these contents would cause if they were conscious.
Associated with the law of repression is resistance, which consists of the opposition of the conscious self to make certain repressed contents conscious. Resistance is an obstacle in the therapeutic process, since it prevents patients from accessing their internal conflicts and working on them constructively. Recognizing the existence of repression and resistance is essential to address unconscious conflicts and achieve greater psychological health.
3. Law of psychic causality
The third law of the unconscious establishes that all psychic manifestations have a cause, even if it is not evident to the naked eye. Through free association, dream interpretation and other psychoanalytic methods, it is possible to trace the causes of symptoms and psychic conflicts until they reach their origin in the unconscious.
This law invites us to explore the connections between the conscious and the unconscious, between the past and the present, to understand how certain past events and experiences can influence our current life without us being fully aware of it. Psychic causality reminds us that there are no psychic phenomena without reasons or a story behind them, and that the task of psychoanalysis is to unravel these invisible connections.
4. Law of symbolization and language of the unconscious
The fourth law of the unconscious refers to the ability of the unconscious to express itself through symbols, metaphors and other non-verbal elements. Freud already pointed out the importance of dreams as an expression of the unconscious, where repressed desires and internal conflicts are manifested symbolically.
The language of the unconscious is different from the rational and conscious language that we use in our lives. daily. Through slips of the tongue, jokes, failed acts and other symbolic manifestations, the unconscious seeks to communicate its contents indirectly, challenging the censorship of the conscious self.
Understand the language of the unconscious and learn to Interpreting its symbols is a fundamental task in psychoanalysis, since it allows access to repressed content and working on its elaboration to achieve greater psychic integration and greater emotional well-being.
In conclusion, "the 4 laws of the unconscious" offer us a theoretical framework to understand the functioning of this mysterious and powerful part of our mind. Recognizing the existence of the unconscious, repression and resistance, psychic causality and symbolic language allows us to delve into the depths of our psyche, unravel internal conflicts and seek paths towards greater authenticity and fulfillment in our lives.