title: Lay psychology of the hidden mental life: attribution patterns of unconscious processes.
abstract: In spite of extensive research on theory of mind, lay theories about the unconscious have scarcely been investigated. Three questionnaire studies totaling 689 participants, examined to what extent they thought that a range of psychological processes could be unconscious. It was found that people are less willing to countenance unconscious processes in themselves than in others, regardless of the time period considered--present, past or future. This is especially true when specific experience-like situations are envisioned, as opposed to considering the question in abstract or generic terms. In addition, the notion of unconscious psychological processes is resisted for certain domains in particular: intending, sensing, believing, and thinking. We interpret this pattern by positing the existence of two conceptions about the unconscious that are differentially applied according to circumstances: one originating in prevalent social representations about the unconscious, the other based on self-model of the person as an intentional actor.
authors: Department of Psychology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, PO Box 653, Beer Sheva 84105, Israel. ofri.maor@gmail.com
authors: Ofri
authors: O
authors: Maor
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Leiser
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D008297:Male; D008606:Mental Processes; D008875:Middle Aged; D012649:Self Concept; D012938:Social Perception; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D056345:Theory of Mind; D014473:Unconscious, Psychology; D055815:Young Adult