The Unconscious and Consciousness

I like Lacan's idea that the unconscious is the nucleus of one's being. Most of what we are is unconscious: our desires, which are the reasons for what we say and think and do, come from our unconscious. So how can we say we know ourselves when we have no access to our nucleus, to that which causes the majority of what is conscious and the majority of our behavior? And further, how can we be held responsible for much of what we do if we are not consciously choosing to do it?

That most of what we think and do comes from unconscious sources is not surprising when you compare humans with animals -- humans, afterall, are not so different than animals (especially when there are a lot of people in one place at the same time). However, there is something quite important that separates humans from animals: language. It allows us to have complex societies, to have complex relationships, and it allows us to have consciousness in the sense that we can contemplate our current situation, and think about our thoughts, and plan for the future, etc. (This is so because we think with language; the more complex language we have, the more complex thoughts we can have.)

And with the consciousness that language allows for, we have some control over what we say and do, though it is indeed limited (again, we're still pretty similar to animals). Though, conscious effort can affect the unconscious. What I mean is that consciousness, as limited as it may be, can shape a person in a way they choose. For example, imagine Jerard has a bad habit of biting his nails and he wants to stop. He doesn't think when he does it; he sometimes realizes that he is biting his nails while already in the process (Jerard's habit is unconscious). However, with some effort, Jerard can consciously pay attention whenever he bites his nails, and make the conscious effort to refrain from biting (and perhaps using positive reinforcement when he successfully refrains, such as rewarding himself with a piece of candy).

With enough time and effort, Jerard can stop his nailbiting habit -- a habit which was unconscious. So he used his consciousness to affect and change his unconscious. It's important to note that the habit is probably not gone completely, meaning that Jerard may pick it up again in the future. Yet, it's gone for now and for at least a while. The more Jerard consciously avoids biting his nails the less likely the habit will return.

So even though most of a person is unconscious, there is the power to consciously change. In my opinion, the reason people don't change more often is because of laziness. It's so easy to keep doing what comes natural. And in many cases what's natural is the optimal way, but not in all cases, as with Jerard's nailbiting habit. Besides, conscious effort is work. It's much easier just to bite one's nails. But it doesn't have to be that way. Language gives us the power of consciousness, which gives us the power to change that which is unconsciously caused.