Janet’s conceptions of the subconscious are restrictively conceived but show important differentiations which are discussed in detail. First, an outline of Janet’s conception of consciousness is presented as well as of the terms of psychic synthesis and the notion of the field of consciousness. This is defined as a system of elementary or relatively elementary psychic phenomena which are connected with the personal ego in a given moment. Herbart’s conception of the relation of conscious and unconscious psychic phenomena is analysed. Concerning Janet’s psychology of tendencies, several kinds of subconsciousness are distinguished: dissociative subconsciousness, habit formation, adaptation, psychological automatism, dispositional subconsciousness and threshold-related subconsciousness or subliminal consciousness. The problem of dissociative subconsciousness caused by fixed ideas is discussed, and adaptation, habitualization and psychic automatism are described, all notions which are important for the conception of dissociative subconsciousness. Janet’s understanding of double personality is outlined. Finally, the problem of the threshold of consciousness is explained.

Keywords:
Unconscious, Subconscious, Consciousness, Depth psychology, History of psychology, Janet
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© 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel
2009
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