Question

Explain the levels of consciousness as stated in the psychodynamic approach.

Answer 1

According to the psychodynamic approach, mental life operates at three levels of consciousness:

1. Conscious: This is the small part of the mind we are currently aware of: our present thoughts, feelings and actions.
2. Preconscious: This contains memories and ideas that are not in awareness right now but can easily come to mind if we pay attention (for example, recalling what you ate yesterday).
3. Unconscious: This is the largest and deepest level, containing wishes, fears and memories we are unaware of. These unconscious processes strongly influence our behaviour, dreams and slips of the tongue.