US High School Psychology Practice Exam

According to Sigmund Freud, what is a reservoir of unacceptable wishes and thoughts?

1. Conscious mind

2. Subconscious thought

3. Unconscious thought

4. Collective unconscious

The correct answer is: Unconscious thought

Sigmund Freud proposed that the unconscious mind is a crucial part of his theory of personality. It is understood as a repository for thoughts, memories, and desires that are not accessible to the conscious mind, particularly those that are socially unacceptable or anxiety-provoking. The unconscious holds repressed feelings and urges, which can influence behavior and thought processes without the individual’s awareness. In Freud's view, the unconscious mind plays a vital role in shaping personality and behaviors, often manifesting in dreams, slips of the tongue (often referred to as "Freudian slips"), and neurotic symptoms. By exploring the unconscious, Freud believed it would be possible to bring repressed thoughts to the surface, enabling individuals to achieve greater self-awareness and emotional healing. The other options relate to different concepts. The conscious mind contains thoughts and perceptions that an individual is currently aware of. Subconscious thought is not a term frequently used in Freud's theory; it is often used in more general contexts to refer to thoughts just below the level of awareness. Collective unconscious, a concept introduced by Carl Jung, refers to structures of the unconscious mind shared among beings of the same species, which differs from Freud’s focus on personal unconscious experiences. Thus, the definition provided aligns best with Freud’s understanding