unconscious vs. subconscious

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#180366 - 11/17/08 12:35 PM unconscious vs. subconscious
Terry Nowak stranger Registered: 04/23/08 Posts: 7	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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#180367 - 11/17/08 01:02 PM Re: unconscious vs. subconscious [Re: Terry Nowak]
tsuwm Carpal Tunnel Registered: 04/03/00 Posts: 8911 Loc: this too shall pass	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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#180369 - 11/17/08 02:04 PM Re: unconscious vs. subconscious [Re: tsuwm]
BranShea Pooh-Bah Registered: 06/23/06 Posts: 2312 Loc: Netherlands, the Hague	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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#180371 - 11/17/08 03:12 PM Re: unconscious vs. subconscious [Re: BranShea]
etaoin Carpal Tunnel Registered: 06/24/02 Posts: 6251 Loc: Vermont	I still use the two words appropriately. I think.
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#180375 - 11/17/08 07:35 PM Re: unconscious vs. subconscious [Re: BranShea]
The Pook old hand Registered: 02/20/08 Posts: 957 Loc: Tasmania	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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#180378 - 11/17/08 08:03 PM Re: unconscious vs. subconscious [Re: The Pook]
Faldage Carpal Tunnel Registered: 12/01/00 Posts: 11846	I think The Pook has it pretty well down.
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#180383 - 11/18/08 04:03 AM Re: unconscious vs. subconscious [Re: Faldage]
BranShea Pooh-Bah Registered: 06/23/06 Posts: 2312 Loc: Netherlands, the Hague	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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#180394 - 11/18/08 08:41 AM Re: unconscious vs. subconscious [Re: BranShea]
twosleepy addict Registered: 02/28/08 Posts: 464 Loc: western NY	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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#180395 - 11/18/08 08:49 AM Re: unconscious vs. subconscious [Re: twosleepy]
etaoin Carpal Tunnel Registered: 06/24/02 Posts: 6251 Loc: Vermont	Originally Posted By: twosleepy I admit I usually use unconscious as an adjective, and subconscious as a noun. :0) subconsciously, I do, too.
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#180397 - 11/18/08 10:34 AM Re: unconscious vs. subconscious [Re: etaoin]
twosleepy addict Registered: 02/28/08 Posts: 464 Loc: western NY	And apparently consciously, also! ;0)
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