Secondary consciousness

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The concepts of primary and secondary consciousness correspond to a concept introduced by Josef Breuer and Sigmund Freud in their studies on hysteria of 1895 , according to which the formation of hysteria initially results in a hypnoid state isolated from consciousness , during which ideas are entered organize themselves in the following time and form a second, secondary consciousness. The original consciousness is called primary (see also: Studies on Hysteria ).

The person could be mutually under the influence of both consciousnesses. The term condition seconde denotes the predominance of secondary consciousness . A person who is in condition seconde behaves and experiences things differently. Both are temporally and topically separated from each other. The change is triggered by external influences or emerging ideas.

Identifiers of the states

  • The primary consciousness is that conscious activity that everyone knows about himself and from everyday life.
  • The secondary consciousness is an inhomogeneous connection of loose ideas that are not in a stringent or logical connection with each other, but are called together. They produce symptoms in the process.

The secondary state of consciousness is therefore structurally comparable to a dream state or an artificial hypnosis and was therefore also referred to as hypnoid . It distinguishes itself from normal consciousness through inhibited or inhibited associations .

From the fact that the hysteric speaks of himself as " I " at all times with full justification , Sigmund Freud concluded that there must be two separate states of consciousness which both characterize the person. Neither of the two is more correct than the other, but they differ considerably in terms of their performance. Above all, reason and logical thinking are severely restricted in secondary consciousness, as it does not have the large amount of clear and realistic information available to primary consciousness. It is productive, but not logically efficient.

Separation of the two states

According to Freud, the two states of consciousness are not completely separated from each other even when hysteria is manifest . If the person is in condition seconde , their “crazy” behavior is often registered and stored by the primary consciousness. Likewise, when the person is in primary consciousness, influences of the hysterical system of ideas penetrate ( invade ) and produce symptoms , which support the patient's more or less strong idea of his problem.

Both conditions interlock and the more complete the separation of the conditions, the more severe the clinical picture . During the hysterical psychosis, the two are often completely separated. In contrast to the psychological nature of the non-hysteric, dream states would occur in the hysteric in the primary consciousness. They invade the waking life.

source

  • Sigmund Freud / Josef Breuer: Studies on Hysteria. Franz Deuticke, Leipzig + Vienna 1895. Reprint: 6th edition. Fischer, Frankfurt a. M. 1991. ISBN 3596104467