Written by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 examโขWritten by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Definition
Subconscious feelings are emotions, desires, or thoughts that exist outside of our conscious awareness but still influence our behavior and experiences. They can include repressed memories, hidden fears, or unresolved conflicts.
These are psychological strategies used by individuals to protect themselves from anxiety or discomfort caused by subconscious feelings. Examples include repression (pushing unwanted thoughts into the unconscious) and denial (refusing to acknowledge reality).
This is when a patient redirects their emotions and attitudes towards a therapist or analyst based on their past experiences with significant people in their lives.
Repression is a defense mechanism where distressing thoughts, memories, or impulses are pushed into the unconscious mind to prevent conscious awareness and reduce anxiety.