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Guilherme Mazui

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What is the Difference Between Conscious and Unconscious?

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The difference between conscious and unconscious lies in the level of awareness and the type of processes involved.

  • Conscious: The conscious mind consists of everything you are currently aware of, such as thoughts, feelings, and memories. It is logical, rational, and reacts to different situations in life. Conscious processes are part of our awareness and can be easily acknowledged and examined.
  • Unconscious: The unconscious mind is a reservoir of feelings, thoughts, urges, and memories that are outside of our conscious awareness. It is a deeper mental process that happens automatically and is not available for introspection. Some examples of unconscious processes include long-term memory storage and the point of origin for deep-seated phobias.

In summary, the conscious mind is what we are currently aware of and can be easily acknowledged, while the unconscious mind is a deeper, more hidden part of our mental processes that are not available for introspection and are outside of our conscious awareness.

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  • What is the Difference Between Conscious and Unconscious?
  • Comparative Table: Conscious vs Unconscious

    • Comparative Table: Conscious vs Unconscious

    Here is a table summarizing the differences between conscious and unconscious:

    Feature Conscious Mind Unconscious Mind
    Definition The conscious mind is the part of the mind that is currently in focal awareness and includes thoughts and feelings of which we are aware. It is responsible for logic, reasoning, and planning. The unconscious mind is the part of the mind that includes thoughts, memories, and primitive/instinctual desires that are deeply buried within us, well below our conscious awareness. While we are unaware of their existence, they have a significant impact on our behavior.
    Awareness Conscious thoughts and feelings are aware, intentional, and responsive. Unconscious thoughts and feelings are unaware or performed without realizing.
    Processing The conscious mind processes information sequentially and logically. The unconscious mind processes information instantly and spontaneously.
    Examples Examples of conscious mind activities include reading, listening to music, or engaging in a conversation. Examples of unconscious mind activities include physiological responses (nervous system, circulatory system, breathing system, urinary system, and reproductive system) and storing knowledge (e.g., riding a bicycle).

    In summary, the conscious mind is responsible for our awareness, logic, and reasoning, while the unconscious mind stores deeply buried thoughts, memories, and desires that influence our behavior without our awareness.

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    Guilherme Mazui

    Guilherme Mazui is graduated in journalism from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) and a master's degree in Communication from the University of São Paulo (USP). In addition, he has experience in advertising writing and has worked as a content editor in several companies.