The Unconscious Mind (PSYC30012)

You’re currently viewing the 2023 version of this subject

Undergraduate programs will be delivered on campus. Graduate programs will mainly be delivered on campus, with dual-delivery and online options available to a select number of subjects within some programs.
To learn more, visit 2023 Course and subject delivery.

Overview

Fees	Look up fees

Ever since Freud, the unconscious mind has been a critical part of our understanding of the human mind and behaviour. Despite its power to captivate popular imagination, scientific psychology's treatment of unconsciousness has a history of vicissitudes. This subject has three main components: historical background, contemporary theory and research, and applications and implications in contemporary culture and society. First, the subject traces the historical origin and subsequent development of the idea of the unconscious mind in psychological theories and practice. In so doing, Freud's notion of unconsciousness, as well as lesser known, but critically important theorists' contributions are examined and their contemporary implications are discussed. Second, the modern methods used in the contemporary examination of unconscious processes are introduced, and the current understanding of psychological unconsciousness is discussed from neuroscientific, perceptual, cognitive, developmental, social, and clinical perspectives. Third, we survey the uses of the scientific understanding of unconscious processes in a variety of applied contexts and explore implications of the psychological knowledge about the unconscious mind in contemporary culture and society. This includes a critical examination of the evidence for the role of unconscious processes in abnormal human behaviour and discussions about implications of the unconscious mind for identity and responsibility.

Intended learning outcomes

Knowledge

On completion of this subject students will demonstrate the capacity to:

Describe key theories and findings that underpin historic and current knowledge of the unconscious mind;
Explain how these theories and research have developed our understanding of the unconscious;
Contrast approaches to understanding and studying the unconscious from different theoretical perspectives.

Skills

On completion of the subject students will have developed skills to:

Critically review theories of the unconscious throughout the history of psychology;
Evaluate the methodologies used to investigate the unconscious mind;
Interpret empirical research findings on the unconscious mind;
Communicate psychological research findings effectively in various written formats.

Application of knowledge and skills

On completion of this subject students will be able to apply their knowledge and skills to:

Develop and present a reasoned argument concerning the place of the unconscious mind in contemporary psychological theory and more broadly within contemporary culture and society.

Generic skills

Students will be given appropriate opportunity and educational support to develop skills to:

think critically and apply analytical skills to new issues
appraise current knowledge and its internal structure
evaluate methods used to acquire current knowledge
appropriately interpret empirical data in the light of current knowledge and methodological considerations
communicate ideas concisely

Last updated: 20 March 2025

Eligibility and requirements

Prerequisites

None

Corequisites

None

Non-allowed subjects

512301 The Unconscious Mind

Recommended background knowledge

Prior coursework in at least two Level 2 psychology subjects is recommended. Level 2 psychology subjects are: Biological Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, Developmental Psychology, and Personality & Social Psychology.

Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)

The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.

Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home

Last updated: 20 March 2025

Assessment

Description	Timing	Percentage
Written work 2000 words Hurdle requirement: For the purposes of meeting this hurdle requirement, each submitted assessment must be complete and constitute a genuine attempt to address the requirements of the task. Submitting only part of an assessment (e.g. only the title page) or an assessment on an irrelevant topic will not meet this hurdle requirement.	From Week 10 to Week 11	45%
Group Oral Presentation 10 minutes Hurdle requirement: For the purposes of meeting this hurdle requirement, each submitted assessment must be complete and constitute a genuine attempt to address the requirements of the task. Submitting only part of an assessment (e.g. only the title page) or an assessment on an irrelevant topic will not meet this hurdle requirement.	From Week 5 to Week 7	10%
An examination 2 hours Hurdle requirement: For the purposes of meeting this hurdle requirement, each submitted assessment must be complete and constitute a genuine attempt to address the requirements of the task. Submitting only part of an assessment (e.g. only the title page) or an assessment on an irrelevant topic will not meet this hurdle requirement.	During the examination period	45%
Hurdle requirement: Attendance of at least 80% of the laboratory classes is a hurdle requirement. In case of failure to meet the hurdle requirement, additional work will be required before a passing grade can be awarded.	Throughout the teaching period	N/A

Last updated: 20 March 2025

Dates & times

Not available in 2023

Time commitment details

Estimated total time commitment for this subject is 170 hours

Last updated: 20 March 2025

Further information

Texts
Prescribed texts
No prescribed text. A reading pack will be made available.
Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name
Course Graduate Diploma in Psychology
Major Psychology
Major Psychology
Informal specialisation Science Discipline subjects - new generation B-SCI
Breadth options
This subject is available as breadth in the following courses:
Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Please note Single Subject Studies via Community Access Program is not available to student visa holders or applicants
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Additional information for this subject
subject coordinator approval required
Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.

Type	Name
Course	Graduate Diploma in Psychology
Major	Psychology
Major	Psychology
Informal specialisation	Science Discipline subjects - new generation B-SCI

Last updated: 20 March 2025

Overview

Intended learning outcomes

Generic skills

Eligibility and requirements

Prerequisites

Corequisites

Non-allowed subjects

Recommended background knowledge

Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)

Assessment

Dates & times

Time commitment details

Further information

Prescribed texts

About the Community Access Program (CAP)

Additional information for this subject