"Where ID was, there EGO shall be"

~ Sigmund Freud

June 2025 | Vol. 69, No. 2
Written by Sam Garloff, DO

Typically, when I proffer a submission to the newsletter or journal, it is rather whimsical. Not this time. Andrew Budson, MD, a researcher at Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, has published a New Explanation for Consciousness. "In a nutshell, our theory is that consciousness developed as a memory system that is used by our unconscious brain to help us flexibly and creatively imagine the future and plan accordingly." [This] "suggests that we don't perceive the world, make decisions or perform actions directly. Instead, we do all these things unconsciously and then, about a half second later, consciously remember doing them....We knew that conscious processes were simply too slow to be actively involved in music, sports and other activities where split-second reflexes are required."

I believe this is correct. Starting in the late 1890s, Sigmund Freud postulated much the same. He certainly was not the first to develop or discuss the concept of the unconscious. Consider the writings of Jean-Martin Charcot. Shakespeare without naming the unconscious certainly utilized it in his plays. Numerous books have been written about the unconscious in religious texts.

Quoting Freud, "The unconscious is the biggest circle which includes within it the smallest circle of the conscious. All conscious has a preliminary step in the unconscious, while the unconscious can stop at this step and still claim the complete value of a psychic activity."

Dylan Selterman, who runs the John's Hopkins University DREAM Lab, is in the process of rediscovering the importance of the unconscious to conscious relationship through dreaming. DREAM LAB, for reference, is an acronym for Dreams, Relationships, Emotions, Attractions and Mortality. While most researchers subscribe to the continuity hypothesis of dreaming, his research demonstrates much more significance and importance. Having studied thousands of dreams, he has recognized and published a most interesting finding: People in a relationship who experience a dream that their partner is, has been, or will be unfaithful, find themselves feeling estranged from their partner the next day. In fact, repeated dreams of unfaithfulness have led to the dissolution of long-term relationships. This conscious act, stemming from periods of unconsciousness, seems consistent with Dr. Budson's research. Remember, Freud published The Interpretation of Dreams in 1899, introducing the concept of the unconscious into dreaming

Literature provides historical insight. In 1774, Johann Wolfgang Goethe wrote, The Sorrows of Young Werther. A hapless fellow, Werther fell in love with a woman engaged to another man. The story ends with a description of how Werther ends his life. The publication was banned in several European countries after their citizens were found dead, often dressed as the fictional Werther, with a copy of the story in their possession. Two centuries later we have dubbed this the "Werther Effect."

A display of affective disturbance unabated, or the unabated effect of the unconscious?

We are able to demonstrate an increase in suicides after reports of a celebrity ending their life. After Robin Williams died in 2014, there were 1,800 suicides over the following four months. Surprised? Don't be, Freud wrote, "The unconscious of a human being can react to another person's unconscious without it passing through the conscious mind." Are you doubtful? Don't be, business people know this, that's why they have advertising departments.

Monsters from the Id?, or Unconscious Unchained?

Now a century+ later, we are currently proving many of Freud's theories and insights correct. Not all of them of course, that's the price paid for pioneering. Freud's detractors seek fame by "debunking." CBT anyone? After all, no one competes to be second.

Viewing Einstein and Freud as contemporaries, we might postulate that the conscious and unconscious are dependent on relativity, gravity and time. But, we shouldn't. It would be too metaphysical. Right? Still....

Dream interpretation and the interaction of the conscious and unconscious is an intellectually stimulating topic. If I still lectured, it would be my next presentation. To my younger, active brethren, consider exploring this topic with our non-psychiatric colleagues during a CME conference. I assure you of a lively debate.

Sigmund, clean the coop. They're coming home to roost.

Postscript: Since penning the above, Heinrich Pas has published, The One. In it you will read the significance in Plato's writings, Botticelli's art, Mozart's compositions, Goethe's writings and Einstein's theories in relation to Quantum Entanglement. Copenhagen denied!? I don't believe a better depiction of Monism, from a theoretical physicist, has never been written.

WGRP