by Dr. Gina Ahn
Reading time: 2 min
Models of the Mind
In order to comprehend how hypnosis works, it is important to understand the 3 different levels of the mind. They consist of unconscious, subconscious, and conscious. The key aspect of these models is that all of its components are best understood as functions rather than physical parts.
Unconscious Mind
Even though it is called unconscious mind, it is a very active level of consciousness. The unconscious mind works automatically to take care of functions that are associated with Autonomic Nervous System (ANS). Some of the bodily functions that are associated with the unconscious mind are breathing, physical/emotional responses, heart rate, and protective functions such as reflexes and immune system.
Subconscious Mind
The subconscious mind is who you really are. All the developments from our experiences that make up our personality store permanent memory into the subconscious mind and it is limitless as to how much they store. During hypnosis, all of your experiences that are held in the subconscious can be revealed. The more important or more emotionally packed a particular event is in your past, the more easily it can be found and revivified. However, there may be some challenges on the revivification if the event is blocked by a protective function which can make the retrieval more difficult. Some of the functions of the subconscious mind that makes up your personality include habits, beliefs, imagination, and protective functions (resisting incoming information that is inconsistent with previously accepted information).
Conscious Mind
The conscious mind focuses on the current state of mind; however, the conscious mind can easily be refocused on the past and create imagination of the future or into a complete fantasy. Unlike the subconscious mind, the conscious mind is limited to how much it can hold. The functions of the conscious mind consist of protective thought process, logics, and interact with the critical factor which resides between the conscious and subconscious.
It is important to understand that hypnosis does not cause someone to lose consciousnesses. Hypnosis is not a state of unconsciousness, but rather a stated of focused consciousness.
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