The role of the unconscious

• > The unconscious is the part of the mind that contains information we are not consciously aware of such as repressed memories, the unconscious protects our conscious self from anxiety or fears

  > The unconscious drives much of our behaviour such as our personality and behaviours
• Conscious mind

  > The part of the mind we know about and aware of - 'tip of the iceberg'
• Preconscious

  > The part of the mind that is just below the conscious mind and includes thoughts and ideas which we may become aware of during dreams or 'slips of the tongue'

  > Freudian slip
• Unconscious

  > The part of the mind that we are unaware of - biological drives and instincts and threatening and disturbing memories that have been repressed or locked away and forgotten about