THEUNSCONSCIOUS:Wehavelearntfrompsychoanalysisthattheessenceoftheprocessofrepression

lies,notinputtinganendto,inannihilating,theideawhichrepresentsaninstinct,butinpreventingitfrom
becomingconscious.Whenthishappenswesayoftheideathatitisinastateofbeingunconscious,andwe
canproducegoodevidencetoshowthatevenwhenitisunconsciousitcanproduceeffects,evenincluding
somewhichfinallyreachconsciousness.Everythingthatisrepressedmustremainunconsciousbutletusstate
attheveryoutsetthattherepresseddoesnotcovereverythingthatisunconscious.Theunconscioushasthe
widercompass:therepressedisapartoftheunconscious.

I.

JUSTIFICATIONFORTHECONCEPTOFTHEUNCONSCIOUS

Ourassumptionoftheunconsciousisnecessaryandlegitimate

,andthatwepossessnumerousproofsofits
existence.Itisn ecessarybecausethedataofconsciousnesshaveaverylargenumberofgapsinthemboth
inhealthyandinsickpeoplepsychicalactsoftenoccurwhichcanbeexplainedonlybypresupposingother
acts,ofwhich,nevertheless,consciousnessaffordsnoevidence.Thesenotonlyincludeparapraxesand
dreamsinhealthypeople,andeverythingdescribedasapsychicalsymptomoranobsessioninthesickour
mostpersonaldailyexperienceacquaintsuswithideasthatcomeintoourheadwedonotknowfrom
where,andwithintellectualconclusionsarrivedatwedonotknowhow.

Consciousnessmakeseachofusawareonlyofhisownstatesofmindthatotherpeople,too,possessa
consciousnessisaninferencewhichwedrawbyanalogyfromtheirobservableutterancesandactions,inorder
tomakethisbehaviouroftheirsintelligibletous.(Itwouldnodoubtbepsychologicallymorecorrecttoputit
inthisway:thatwithoutanyspecialreflectionweattributetoeveryoneelseourownconstitutionandtherefore
ourconsciousnessaswell,andthatthisidentificationisa

sinequanonofourunderstanding.)Psychoanalysis
demandsnothingmorethanthatweshouldapplythisprocessofinferencetoourselvesalso.

Furthermore,experienceshowsthatweunderstandverywellhowtointerpretinotherpeople(thatis,howtofit
intotheirchainofmentalevents)thesameactswhichwerefusetoacknowledgeasbeingmentalinourselves.
Heresomespecialhindranceevidentlydeflectsourinvestigationsfromourownselfandpreventsourobtaining
atrueknowledgeofit.

Thisprocessofinference,whenappliedtooneselfinspiteofinternalopposition,doesnot,however,leadtothe
disclosureofanunconsciousitleadslogicallytotheassumptionofanother,secondconsciousnesswhichis
unitedinonesselfwiththeconsciousnessoneknows.

Wemustbeprepared,ifso,toassumetheexistenceinusnotonlyofasecondconsciousness,butofathird,
fourth,perhapsofanunlimitednumberofstatesofconsciousness,allunknowntousandtooneanother.

Butwehavetotakeintoaccountthefactthatanalyticinvestigationrevealssomeoftheselatentprocessesas
havingcharacteristicsandpeculiaritieswhichseemalientous,orevenincredible,andwhichrundirectly
countertotheattributesofconsciousnesswithwhichwearefamiliar.Thuswehavegroundsformodifyingour
inferenceaboutourselvesandsayingthatwhatisprovedisnottheexistenceofasecondconsciousnessinus,
buttheexistenceofpsychicalactswhichlackconsciousness.

JustasKantwarnedusnottooverlookthefactthatourperceptionsaresubjectivelyconditionedandmustnot
beregardedasidenticalwithwhatisperceivedthoughunknowable,sopsychoanalysiswarnsusnottoequate
perceptionsbymeansofconsciousnesswiththeunconsciousmentalprocesseswhicharetheirobject.Likethe
physical,thepsychicalisnotnecessarilyinrealitywhatitappearstoustobe.

II.
VARIOUSMEANINGSOFTHEUNCONSCIOUSTHETOPOGRAPHICALPOINTOF
VIEW

Therearepsychicalactsofveryvaryingvaluewhichyetagreeinpossessingthecharacteristicofbeing
unconscious.Theunconsciouscomprises,ontheonehand,actswhicharemerelylatent,temporarily
unconscious,butwhichdifferinnootherrespectfromconsciousonesand,ontheotherhand,processessuchas
repressedones,whichiftheyweretobecomeconsciouswouldbeboundtostandoutinthecrudestcontrastto

therestoftheconsciousprocesses.Itwouldputanendtoallmisunderstandingsif,fromnowon,indescribing
thevariouskindsofpsychicalactsweweretodisregard
thequestionofwhethertheywereconsciousorunconscious,andweretoclassifyandcorrelatethemonly
accordingtotheirrelationtoinstinctsandaims,accordingtotheircompositionandaccordingtowhichofthe
hierarchyofpsychicalsystemstheybelongto.

Proceedingnowtoanaccountofthepositivefindingsofpsychoanalysis,wemaysaythatingenerala
psychicalactgoesthroughtwophasesasregardsitsstate,betweenwhichisinterposedakindoftesting
(censorship).

Inthefirstphasethepsychicalactisunconsciousandbelongstothesystem

Ucs.if,ontesting,itisrejectedby
thecensorship,itisnotallowedtopassintothesecondphaseitisthensaidtoberepressedandmustremain
unconscious.

If,however,itpassesthistesting,itentersthesecondphaseandthenceforthbelongstothesecondsystem,
whichwewillcallthesystemCs.Butthefactthatitbelongstothatsystemdoesnotyetunequivocally
determineitsrelationtoconsciousness.Itisnotyetconscious,butitiscertainlycapableofbecomingconscious
(touseBreuersexpression)thatis,itcannow,givencertainconditions,becomeanobjectofconsciousness
withoutanyspecialresistance.Inconsiderationofthiscapacityforbecomingconsciouswealsocallthesystem
Cs.thepreconscious.Ifitshouldturnoutthatacertaincensorshipalsoplaysapartindeterminingwhether
thepreconsciousbecomesconscious,weshalldiscriminatemoresharplybetweenthesystems

Pcs.andCs.For
thepresentletitsufficeustobearinmindthatthesystem

Pcs.sharesthecharacteristicsofthesystemCs.and
thattherigorouscensorshipexercisesitsofficeatthepointoftransitionfromthe

Ucs.tothePcs.(orCs.).

Ifwearetotakethetopographyofmentalactsseriouslywemustdirectourinteresttoadoubtwhicharisesat
thispoint.Whenapsychicalact(letusconfineourselvesheretoonewhichisinthenatureofanidea)is
transposedfromthesystemUcs.intothesystemCs.(orPcs.),arewetosupposethatthistranspositioninvolves
afreshrecordasitwere,asecondregistrationoftheideainquestion,whichmaythusbesituatedaswellina
freshpsychicallocality,andalongsideofwhichtheoriginalunconsciousregistrationcontinuestoexist?Orare
werathertobelievethatthetranspositionconsistsinachangeinthestateoftheidea,achangeinvolvingthe
samematerialandoccurringinthesamelocality?Thisquestionmayappearabstruse,butitmustberaisedifwe
wishtoformamoredefiniteconceptionofpsychicaltopography,ofthedimensionofdepthinthemind.

Ifwecommunicatetoapatientsomeideawhichhehasatonetimerepressedbutwhichwehavediscoveredin
him,ourtellinghimmakesatfirstnochangeinhismentalcondition.Aboveall,itdoesnotremovethe
repressionnorundoitseffects,asmightperhapsbeexpectedfromthefactthatthepreviouslyunconsciousidea
hasnowbecomeconscious.Onthecontrary,allthatweshallachieveatfirstwillbeafreshrejectionofthe
repressedidea.Butnowthepatienthasinactualfactthesameideaintwoformsindifferentplacesinhismental
apparatus:first,hehastheconsciousmemoryoftheauditorytraceoftheidea,conveyedinwhatwetoldhim
andsecondly,healsohasasweknowforcertaintheunconsciousmemoryofhisexperienceasitwasinits
earlierform.Actuallythereisnoliftingoftherepressionuntiltheconsciousidea,aftertheresistanceshave
beenovercome,hasenteredintoconnectionwiththeunconsciousmemorytrace.Itisonlythroughthemaking
consciousofthelatteritselfthatsuccessisachieved.

Tohaveheardsomethingandtohaveexperiencedsomethingareintheirpsychologicalnaturetwoquite
differentthings,eventhoughthecontentofbothisthesame.Soforthemomentwearenotinapositionto
decidebetweenthetwopossibilitiesthatwehavediscussed.

(Ourpsychicaltopographyhasforthepresentnothingtodowithanatomyithasreferencenottoanatomical
localities,buttoregionsinthementalapparatus,wherevertheymaybesituatedinthebody.)

III.
UNCONSCIOUSEMOTIONS

Wehavesaidthatthereareconsciousandunconsciousideasbutaretherealsounconsciousinstinctual
impulses,emotionsandfeelings,orisitinthisinstancemeaninglesstoformcombinationsofthekind?

Iaminfactoftheopinionthattheantithesisofconsciousandunconsciousisnotapplicabletoinstincts.
Aninstinctcanneverbecomeanobjectofconsciousnessonlytheideathatrepresentstheinstinctcan.
Evenintheunconscious,moreover,aninstinctcannotberepresentedotherwisethanbyanidea.Iftheinstinct
didnotattachitselftoanideaormanifestitselfasanaffectivestate,wecouldknownothingaboutit.Whenwe
neverthelessspeakofanunconsciousinstinctualimpulseorofarepressedinstinctualimpulse,theloosenessof
wordingisaharmlessone.Wecanonlymeananinstinctualimpulsetheideationalrepresentativeofwhichis
unconscious,fornothingelsecomesintoconsideration.

Weshouldexpecttheanswertothequestionaboutunconsciousfeelings,emotionsandaffectstobejust
aseasilygiven.Itissurelyoftheessenceofanemotionthatweshouldbeawareofit,i.e.thatitshould
becomeknowntoconsciousness.Thusthepossibilityoftheattributeofunconsciousnesswouldbe
completelyexcludedasfarasemotions,feelingsandaffectsareconcerned.Butinpsychoanalyticpractice
weareaccustomedtospeakofunconsciouslove,hate,anger,etc.,andfinditimpossibletoavoideventhe
strangeconjunctionunconsciousconsciousnessofguilt,oraparadoxicalunconsciousanxiety.(thusIt
mightstrikeoneasodd,thatwhenwearetalkingaboutemotions/affect,howcanitbeanythingbutconscious?
Sinceitissomethingwhichweexperienceveryexplicitly.Buthavingsaid,stilltheemotionscanbe
unconsciousintermsoftheirfunctionality,whyamIfeelingguiltynow?andothertimes,theymightbe
unconsciousperse,thatisbeyondthethresholdofawarenessImightnotbeabletomakesenseinagiven
moment,thatwhatamIfeeling)

Inthefirstplace,itmayhappenthatanaffectiveoremotionalimpulseisperceivedbutmisconstrued.Owingto
therepressionofitsproperrepresentativeithasbeenforcedtobecomeconnectedwithanotheridea,andisnow
regardedbyconsciousnessasthemanifestationofthatidea.Ifwerestorethetrueconnection,wecallthe
originalaffectiveimpulseanunconsciousone.Yetitsaffectwasneverunconsciousallthathadhappened
wasthatitsideahadundergonerepression.Ingeneral,theuseofthetermsunconsciousaffectand
unconsciousemotionhasreferencetotheVicissitudes(alterationintosomeunpleasant)undergone.

Weknowthatthreesuchvicissitudesarepossible:eithertheaffectremains,whollyorinpart,asitisoritis
transformedintoaqualitativelydifferentquotaofaffect,aboveallintoanxietyoritissuppressed,i.e.itis
preventedfromdevelopingatall.(Thesepossibilitiesmayperhapsbestudiedevenmoreeasilyinthe
dreamworkthaninneuroses.)

Weknow,too,thattosuppressthedevelopmentofaffectisthetrueaimofrepressionandthatitsworkis
incompleteifthisaimisnotachieved.Ineveryinstancewhererepressionhassucceededininhibitingthe
developmentofaffects,wetermthoseaffects(whichwerestorewhenweundotheworkofrepression)
unconscious.Thusitcannotbedeniedthattheuseofthetermsinquestionisconsistentbutincomparison
withunconsciousideasthereistheimportantdifferencethatunconsciousideascontinuetoexistafter
repressionasactualstructuresinthesystemUcs.,whereasallthatcorrespondsinthatsystemtounconscious
affectsisapotentialbeginningwhichispreventedfromdeveloping.(itslikegoingbytheguestexample,
Ihaventlettheguestintomyhomeyet.Isawhimoutsideandboltedmydoors,thuspreventinghimto
entermyhousethatismyunconscious.Ifhewerein,thenIwouldbefocusingondenyinghispresence
withinmyhousethatwouldtaketheformofunconscious).Strictlyspeaking,then,thereareno
unconsciousaffectsasthereareunconsciousideas.

Itisofspecialinteresttoustohaveestablishedthefactthatrepressioncansucceedininhibitinganinstinctual
impulsefrombeingturnedintoamanifestationofaffect.ThisshowsusthatthesystemCs.normallycontrols
affectivityaswellasaccesstomotilityanditenhancestheimportanceofrepression,sinceitshowsthat
repressionresultsnotonlyinwithholdingthingsfromconsciousness,butalsoinpreventingthedevelopmentof
affectandthesettingoffofmuscularactivity.

Conversely,too,wemaysaythataslongasthesystemCs.controlsaffectivityandmotility,themental
conditionofthepersoninquestionisspokenofasnormal.Nevertheless,thereisanunmistakabledifferencein
therelationofthecontrollingsystemtothetwocontiguousprocessesofdischarge.Whereasthecontrolbythe
Cs.overvoluntarymotilityisfirmlyrooted,regularlywithstandstheonslaughtofneurosisandonlybreaks
downinpsychosis,controlbytheCs.overthedevelopmentofaffectsislesssecure.


ItispossibleforthedevelopmentofaffecttoproceeddirectlyfromthesystemUcs.inthatcasetheaffect
alwayshasthecharacterofanxiety,forwhichallrepressedaffectsareexchanged.Often,however,the
instinctualimpulsehastowaituntilithasfoundasubstitutiveideainthesystemCs.Thedevelopmentofaffect
canthenproceedfromthisconscioussubstitute,andthenatureofthatsubstitutedeterminesthequalitative
characteroftheaffect.Wehaveassertedthatinrepressionaseverancetakesplacebetweentheaffectandthe
ideatowhichitbelongs,andthateachthenundergoesitsseparatevicissitudes.Descriptively,thisis
unquestionableinactuality,however,theaffectdoesnotasarulearisestillthebreakthroughtoanew
representationinthesystemCs.hasbeensuccessfullyachieved.(iethereisnoqnofaffectarisingfromthe
unconscious,unlessacamouflagedrepresentationofthataffectisavailable,throughwhichthataffect
canarise.Thisrepresentationmightcomefromreactionformationeg,ordistortionoftheaffectby
relatingittoanotherideawhichmightormightnotbecompletelyunrelatedtotheoriginalinstinctual
idea.Egitmightbedifficultforaclienttotalkaboutherangerwithherfather,butmightbeeasierto
talkaboutherangerinrelationtoherbrother/bf,inwhomsheseesalotofherfathertoo)

(Affectivitymanifestsitselfessentiallyinmotor(secretoryandvasomotor)dischargeresultinginan
(internal)alterationofthesubjectsownbodywithoutreferencetotheexternalworldmotility,inactions
designedtoeffectchangesintheexternalworld.)

IV.
TOPOGRAPHYANDDYNAMICSOFREPRESSION

Wehavearrivedattheconclusionthatrepressionisessentiallyaprocessaffectingideasontheborderbetween
thesystemsUcs.andPcs.(Cs.),andwecannowmakeafreshattempttodescribetheprocessingreaterdetail.(
thuswhatgetsrepressediseithersubjectedtotheunconsciousandcompletelyrepressed,oritisallowedto
comeoutinacamouflagedway,inwhichcaseitarisesinthepreconscious

Itmustbeamatterofawithdrawalofcathexisbutthequestionis,inwhichsystemdoesthewithdrawal
takeplaceandtowhichsystemdoesthecathexisthatiswithdrawnbelong?

TherepressedidearemainscapableofactionintheUcs.,anditmustthereforehaveretaineditscathexis.
Whathasbeenwithdrawnmustbesomethingelse.

Letustakethecaseofrepressionproper(afterpressure),asitaffectsanideawhichispreconsciousoreven
actuallyconscious.Hererepressioncanonlyconsistinwithdrawingfromtheideathepreconsciouscathexis
whichbelongstothesystemPcs.Theideatheneitherremainsuncathected,orreceivescathexisfromtheUcs.,
orretainstheUcs.cathexiswhichitalreadyhad.Thusthereisawithdrawalofthepreconsciouscathexis,
retentionoftheunconsciouscathexis,orreplacementofthepreconsciouscathexisbyanunconsciousone.(so
anideawhichresidesinthepreconsciousorconsciousalready,butwhichremainsuncathected,whatdoesit
looklikethen,whatformdoesittake?Whatdoesitmeantobeuncathectedhere,andwhatdoesitmeanthatan
ideacanremaininthePcsorCsbutreceivescathexisfromtheUcs..howisthatdifferentfrombeingcompletely
uncathected?ThewayIamunderstandingit,itseemstomeanthattheassociatedemotionsarenotthere,thusit
ishasanondisturbingpresence.Orthepossibilityofmobility,actingoutonthebasisofthatinstinctualideais
notthere,thustheideaissotosaylifeless.Itdoesntstiranythingasif)

Wenotice,moreover,thatwehavebasedthesereflections(asitwere,withoutmeaningto)ontheassumption
thatthetransitionfromthesystemUcs.tothesystemnexttoitisnoteffectedthroughthemakingofanew
registrationbutthroughachangeinitsstate,analterationinitscathexis.Thefunctionalhypothesishashere
easilydefeatedthetopographicalone.

Butthisprocessofwithdrawaloflibidoisnotadequatetomakeanothercharacteristicofrepression
comprehensibletous.Itisnotclearwhytheideawhichhasremainedcathectedorhasreceivedcathexisfrom
theUcs.shouldnot,invirtueofitscathexis,renewtheattempttopenetrateintothesystemPcs.Ifitcoulddo
so,thewithdrawaloflibidofromitwouldhavetoberepeated,andthesameperformancewouldgoon
endlesslybuttheoutcomewouldnotberepression.

Also,whenitcomestodescribingprimalrepression,themechanismjustdiscussedofwithdrawalof
preconsciouscathexiswouldfailtomeetthecaseforherewearedealingwithanunconsciousideawhich

hasasyetreceivednocathexisfromthePcs.andthereforecannothavethatcathexiswithdrawnfromit.
(
(howcanwewithdrawenergyfromapartofpsyche,whereinitwasneverinvestedinthefirstplace?Atthe
most,theunconsciouscanonlymakesuretonevergiveitanycathexisinthefirstplace.Thisiscalled
anticathexis.Anticathexisisnotthewithdrawaloflibidinalforce,itisusingofthelibidinalforceinthe
preventionofgivinganylibidinalforcetoapartofthepsyche)

Whatwerequire,therefore,isanotherprocesswhichmaintainstherepressioninthefirstcaseand,inthesecond,ensures
itsbeingestablishedaswellascontinued.Thisotherprocesscanonlybefoundintheassumptionofananticathexis,by
meansofwhichthesystemPcs.protectsitselffromthepressureuponitoftheunconsciousidea.

Weshallseefromclinicalexampleshowsuchananticathexis,operatinginthesystemPcs.,manifestsitself.(isntthis
maintenanceofsomeinstinctualideainthePcsallaboutanticathexis.Theconcernedinstincthasntbeensubjected
completelytotheunconscious,itresidesontheborder,butisalwaysprohibitedfromfurtherenteringintotheconscious
realm)

Anticathexisisthesolemechanismofprimalrepressioninthecaseofrepressionproper(afterpressure)thereisin
additionwithdrawalofthePcs.cathexis.Itisverypossiblethatitispreciselythecathexiswhichiswithdrawnfromtheidea
thatisusedforanticathexis(inprimalrepression,aninstinctualideaiscompletelydeniedentryintotheconsciousand
completelyresidesintheunconscious.Thisabsolutenatureofrepressionisachievedbyanticathexis,foranticathexisislike
apreventivemeasure.Itisusedevenbeforesomethingunpleasanthasarisen,theverypossibilityofsomethingunpleasant
happeninggiveswaytoanticathexis)

Weseehowwehavegraduallybeenledintoadoptingathirdpointofviewinouraccountofpsychicalphenomena.Besides
thedynamicandthetopographicalpointsofview,wehaveadoptedtheeconomicone.Thisendeavourstofollowoutthe
vicissitudesofamountsofexcitationandtoarriveatleastatsomerelativeestimateoftheirmagnitude(how?)

(Inpsychoanalysis,anticathexis,orcountercathexis,istheenergyusedbytheegotobindtheprimitiveimpulsesoftheId.)

Letusmakeatentativeefforttogiveametapsychologicaldescriptionoftheprocessofrepressioninthethree
transferenceneuroseswhicharefamiliartous.Herewemayreplacecathexisbylibido,because,asweknow,
itisthevicissitudesofsexualimpulseswithwhichweshallbedealing:

Inanxietyhysteriaafirstphaseoftheprocessisfrequentlyoverlooked,andmayperhapsbeinfactmissedout
oncarefulobservation,however,itcanbeclearlydiscerned.Itconsistsinanxietyappearingwithoutthe
subjectknowingwhatheisafraidof.WemustsupposethattherewaspresentintheUcs.someloveimpulse
demandingtobetransposedintothesystemPcs.butthecathexisdirectedtoitfromthelattersystemhasdrawn
backfromtheimpulse(asthoughinanattemptatflight)andtheunconsciouslibidinalcathexisoftherejected
ideahasbeendischargedintheformofanxiety.

Ontheoccasionofarepetition(ifthereshouldbeone)ofthisprocess,afirststepistakeninthedirectionof
masteringtheunwelcomedevelopmentofanxiety.Thecathexisthathastakenflightattachesitselftoa
substitutiveideawhich,ontheonehand,isconnectedbyassociationwiththerejectedidea,and,ontheother,
hasescapedrepressionbyreasonofitsremotenessfromthatidea.Thissubstitutiveideaasubstituteby
displacementpermitsthestilluninhibitabledevelopmentofanxietytoberationalized.Itnowplaysthepartof
ananticathexisforthesystemCs.(Pcs.),bysecuringitagainstanemergenceintheCs.oftherepressedidea.

(soinitiallyaninxplainableanxietyarises.Whenthisprocessisrepatead,thenthisanxietyattachesitselfto
someothersubsititutiveidea,whichonthesurfaceseemsremotefromtheoriginalinstinctualidea,butatthe
sametimemaybeintheuconsciousrealmdoesholdcomeconnection/associationwiththeoriginalidea.This
substitutivedisplacementalsoplaystheroleofanticathexis,ieitlimitsthelibidinalforceattachedwiththe
originalidea)

Ontheotherhanditis,oractsasifitwere,thepointofdepartureforthereleaseoftheanxietyaffect,which
hasnowreallybecomequiteuninhibitable.Clinicalobservationshows,forinstance,thatachildsufferingfrom
ananimalphobiaexperiencesanxietyundertwokindsofconditions:inthefirstplace,whenhisrepressed
loveimpulsebecomesintensified,and,inthesecond,whenheperceivestheanimalheisafraidof.The
substitutiveideaactsintheoneinstanceasapointatwhichthereisapassageacrossfromthesystem
Ucs.tothesystemCs.,and,intheotherinstance,asaselfsufficingsourceforthereleaseofanxiety.


Thechildmayperhapsendbybehavingasthoughhehadnopredilectionwhatevertowardshisfatherbuthad
becomequitefreefromhim,andasthoughhisfearoftheanimalwasarealfearexceptthatthisfearof
theanimal,fedassuchafearisfromanunconsciousinstinctualsource,provesobdurateandexaggerated
inthefaceofallinfluencesbroughttobearfromthesystemCs.,andtherebybetraysitsderivationfromthe
systemUcs.Inthesecondphaseofanxietyhysteria,therefore,theanticathexisfromthesystemCs.hasledto

substituteformation.

Soonthesamemechanismfindsafreshapplication.Theprocessofrepression,asweknow,isnotyetcompleted,andit
findsafurtheraiminthetaskofinhibitingthedevelopmentoftheanxietywhicharisesfromthesubstitute.Thisisachieved
bythewholeoftheassociatedenvironmentofthesubstitutiveideabeingcathectedwithspecialintensity,sothatitcan
displayahighdegreeofsensibilitytoexcitation.

Excitationofanypointinthisouterstructuremustinevitably,onaccountofitsconnectionwiththesubstitutiveidea,giverise
toaslightdevelopmentofanxietyandthisisnowusedasasignaltoinhibit,bymeansofafreshflightonthepartofthe
cathexis,thefurtherprogressofthedevelopmentofanxiety.(thuseventheanxietyarisingoutofdealingwiththephobic
objectisdealtwithintheformofanintroceptiveconditioning,whereineventheslightestsignofanxietyisattendedto
preventitfromamplifyingintogreateranxiety)

Thustheprecautionsdonotbegintooperatetillthesubstitutehassatisfactorilytakenoverrepresentationoftherepressed,
andtheycanneveroperatewithcompletereliability.Witheachincreaseofinstinctualexcitationtheprotecting
rampartroundthesubstitutiveideamustbeshiftedalittlefurtheroutwards.Thewholeconstruction,whichissetupinan
analogouswayintheotherneuroses,istermedaphobia.

ThesystemCs.nowprotectsitselfagainsttheactivationofthesubstitutiveideabyananticathexisofits
environment,justaspreviouslyithadsecureditselfagainsttheemergenceoftherepressedideabyacathexis
ofthesubstitutiveidea.

Theegobehavesasifthedangerofadevelopmentofanxietythreateneditnotfromthedirectionofan
instinctualimpulsebutfromthedirectionofaperception,anditisthusenabledtoreactagainstthisexternal
dangerwiththeattemptsatflightrepresentedbyphobicavoidances.

CONVERSIONHYSTERIA:Inconversionhysteriatheinstinctualcathexisoftherepressedideaischangedintothe
innervationofthesymptom.

InconversionhysteriathepartplayedbytheanticathexisproceedingfromthesystemCs.(Pcs.)isclearandbecomes
manifestintheformationofthesymptom.Itistheanticathexisthatdecidesuponwhatportionoftheinstinctual
representativethewholecathexisofthelatterisabletobeconcentrated.Theportionthusselectedtobeasymptomfulfils
theconditionofexpressingthewishfulaimoftheinstinctualimpulsenolessthanthedefensiveorpunitiveeffortsofthe
systemCs.thusitbecomeshypercathected,anditismaintainedfrombothdirectionslikethesubstitutiveideainanxiety
hysteria.

FromthiscircumstancewemayconcludewithouthesitationthattheamountofenergyexpendedbythesystemCs.on
repressionneednotbesogreatasthecathecticenergyofthesymptomforthestrengthoftherepressionismeasuredby
theamountofanticathexisexpended,whereasthesymptomissupportednotonlybythisanticathexisbutalsobythe
instinctualcathexisfromthesystemUcs.whichiscondensedinthesymptom.3031

V.

THESPECIALCHARACTERISTICSOFTHESYSTEMUcs

ThenucleusoftheUcs.consistsofinstinctualrepresentativeswhichseektodischargetheircathexisthatistosay,it
consistsofwishfulimpulses.Theseinstinctualimpulsesarecoordinatewithoneanother,existsidebysidewithoutbeing
influencedbyoneanother,andareexemptfrommutualcontradiction.Whentwowishfulimpulseswhoseaimsmustappear
tousincompatiblebecomesimultaneouslyactive,thetwoimpulsesdonotdiminisheachotherorcanceleachotherout,but
combinetoformanintermediateaim,acompromise.

Thereareinthissystemnonegation,nodoubt,nodegreesofcertainty:allthisisonlyintroducedbytheworkofthe
censorshipbetweentheUcs.andthePcs.Negationisasubstitute,atahigherlevel,forrepression.IntheUcs.thereare
onlycontents,cathectedwithgreaterorlesserstrength.

Thecathecticintensitiesaremuchmoremobile.Bytheprocessofdisplacementoneideamaysurrendertoanotherits
wholequotaofcathexisbytheprocessofcondensationitmayappropriatethewholecathexisofseveralotherideas.Ihave
proposedtoregardthesetwoprocessesasdistinguishingmarksofthesocalledprimarypsychicalprocess.Inthesystem
Pcs.thesecondaryprocessisdominant.Whenaprimaryprocessisallowedtotakeitscourseinconnectionwithelements
belongingtothesystemPcs.,itappearscomicandexciteslaughter.

TheprocessesofthesystemUcs.aretimelessi.e.theyarenotorderedtemporally,arenotalteredbythepassageoftime
theyhavenoreferencetotimeatall.Referencetotimeisboundup,onceagain,withtheworkofthesystemCs.

TheUcs.processespayjustaslittleregardtoreality.Theyaresubjecttothepleasureprincipletheirfatedependsonlyon
howstrongtheyareandonwhethertheyfulfilthedemandsofthepleasureunpleasureregulation.

Tosumup:exemptionfrommutualcontradiction,primaryprocess(mobilityofcathexes),timelessness,and
replacementofexternalbypsychicalrealitythesearethecharacteristicswhichwemayexpecttofindin
processesbelongingtothesystemUcs.

Unconsciousprocessesonlybecomeidentifiablebyusundertheconditionsofdreamingandofneurosisthatistosay,
whenprocessesofthehigher,Pcs.,systemaresetbacktoanearlierstagebybeinglowered(byregression).Inthemselves
theycannotbeidentified,indeedareevenincapableofcarryingontheirexistenceforthesystemUcs.isataveryearly
momentoverlaidbythePcs.whichhastakenoveraccesstoconsciousnessandtomotility.DischargefromthesystemUcs.
passesintosomaticstimulationsthatleadstodevelopmentofaffectbuteventhispathofdischargeis,aswehaveseen,
contestedbythePcs.Byitself,thesystemUcs.wouldnotinnormalconditionsbeabletobringaboutanyexpedient
muscularacts,withtheexceptionofthosealreadyorganizedasreflexes.(thusunconsciousinitselfcannotfindany
expressionandcannotbereadilyidentified)

TheprocessesofthesystemPcs.display(nomatterwhethertheyarealreadyconsciousoronlycapableofbecoming
conscious)aninhibitionofthetendencyofcathectedideastowardsdischarge.Whenaprocesspassesfromoneideato
another,thefirstidearetainsapartofitscathexisandonlyasmallportionundergoesdisplacement.Displacementsand
condensationssuchashappenintheprimaryprocessareexcludedorverymuchrestricted.Thiscircumstancecaused
Breuertoassumetheexistenceoftwodifferentstatesofcathecticenergyinmentallife:oneinwhichtheenergy
istonicallyboundandtheotherinwhichitisfreelymobileandpressestowardsdischarge.Inmyopinionthis
distinctionrepresentsthedeepestinsightwehavegaineduptothepresentintothenatureofnervousenergy.

VI.

COMMUNICATIONBETWEENTHETWOSYSTEMS

ItwouldneverthelessbewrongtoimaginethattheUcs.remainsatrestwhilethewholeworkofthemindisperformedbythe
Pcs.thattheUcs.issomethingfinishedwith,avestigialorgan,aresiduumfromtheprocessofdevelopment.Itiswrong
alsotosupposethatcommunicationbetweenthetwosystemsisconfinedtotheactofrepression,withthePcs.casting
everythingthatseemsdisturbingtoitintotheabyssoftheUcs.Onthecontrary,theUcs.isaliveandcapableof
developmentandmaintainsanumberofotherrelationswiththePcs.,amongstthemthatofcooperation.

Inbrief,itmustbesaidthattheUcs.iscontinuedintowhatareknownasderivatives,thatitisaccessibletotheimpressions
oflife,thatitconstantlyinfluencesthePcs.,andiseven,foritspart,subjectedtoinfluencesfromthePcs.

AmongthederivativesoftheUcs.instinctualimpulses,ofthesortwehavedescribed,therearesomewhichunitein
themselvescharactersofanoppositekind.Ontheonehand,theyarehighlyorganized,freefromselfcontradiction,have
madeuseofeveryacquisitionofthesystemCs.andwouldhardlybedistinguishedinourjudgementfromtheformationsof
thatsystem.Ontheotherhandtheyareunconsciousandareincapableofbecomingconscious.Thusqualitativelythey
belongtothesystemPcs.,butfactuallytotheUcs.Theiroriginiswhatdecidestheirfate.Wemaycomparethemwith
individualsofmixedracewho,takenallround,resemblewhitemen,butwhobetraytheircoloureddescentbysomestriking
featureorother,andonthataccountareexcludedfromsocietyandenjoynoneoftheprivilegesofwhitepeople.

Theydrawneartoconsciousnessandremainundisturbedsolongastheydonothaveanintensecathexis,butassoonas
theyexceedacertainheightofcathexistheyarethrustback.Substitutiveformations,too,arehighlyorganizedderivativesof
theUcs.ofthiskindbutthesesucceedinbreakingthroughintoconsciousness,whencircumstancesarefavourablefor
example,iftheyhappentojoinforceswithananticathexisfromthePcs.

Hereitseemsagoodplantolookatthingsfromtheangleofconsciousness,incontrasttoourpreviousapproach,which
wasupwardsfromtheUcs.Toconsciousnessthewholesumofpsychicalprocessespresentsitselfastherealmofthe
preconscious.Averygreatpartofthispreconsciousoriginatesintheunconscious,hasthecharacterofitsderivativesandis
subjectedtoacensorshipbeforeitcanbecomeconscious.AnotherpartofthePcs.Iscapableofbecomingconscious
withoutanycensorship.Herewecomeuponacontradictionofanearlierassumption.Indiscussingthesubjectofrepression
wewereobligedtoplacethecensorshipwhichisdecisiveforbecomingconsciousbetweenthesystemsUcs.andPcs..Now
itbecomesprobablethatthereisacensorshipbetweenthePcs.andtheCs.Neverthelessweshalldowellnottoregardthis
complicationasadifficulty,buttoassumethattoeverytransitionfromonesystemtothatimmediatelyaboveit(thatis,every
advancetoahigherstageofpsychicalorganization)therecorrespondsanewcensorship.This,itmayberemarked,does
awaywiththeassumptionofacontinuouslayingdownofnewregistrations.

Thereasonforallthesedifficultiesistobefoundinthecircumstancethattheattributeofbeingconscious,whichistheonly
characteristicofpsychicalprocessesthatisdirectlypresentedtous,isinnowaysuitedtoserveasacriterionforthe
differentiationofsystems.Apartfromthefactthattheconsciousisnotalwaysconsciousbutalsoattimeslatent,observation
hasshownthatmuchthatsharesthecharacteristicsofthesystemPcs.doesnotbecomeconsciousandwelearnin

additionthattheactofbecomingconsciousisdependentontheattentionofthePcs.beingturnedincertaindirections.
Henceconsciousnessstandsinnosimplerelationeithertothedifferentsystemsortorepression.Thetruthisthatitisnot
onlythepsychicallyrepressedthatremainsalientoconsciousness,butalsosomeoftheimpulseswhichdominateourego
something,therefore,thatformsthestrongestfunctionalantithesistotherepressed.Pg3038.