ABSTRACT
Chapter 2 reviews the science on unconscious perception and memory. The effects of unconscious stimuli are examined in light of the Freudian concept of repression and contemporary research on entanglement. It is shown that most information processing resides outside of consciousness, helping to explain automatic behaviors, such as sudden emotionality and unconscious problem-solving. The neurological basis for unconscious emotion is explored. One implication is that, on more occasions than not, clients will not be able to rely on conscious awareness to explain their reactions to events or people, not without resorting to confabulation. Neurological studies have established the dissociation between motoric behavior and conscious awareness as a basic structural feature of the human brain. While the experience of conscious volition is important, it seems that unconscious representation (non-volitional will) is best suited for the task of self-determination. Lastly, the use of primes for mediating unconscious processing is examined, along with the effects of prediction and suggestion when used to promote self-organizing change.
