The Unconscious: The Fundamentals of Human Personality, Normal and Abnormal

A scientific publication written in the early 20th century. This work serves as an introduction to abnormal psychology and discusses the mechanisms of human personality, focusing on both normal and pathological aspects. The author employs the inductive method to gather existing knowledge on the subconscious and aims to clarify foundational concepts for understanding psychological phenomena. The opening portion of the text establishes the groundwork for a thorough exploration of memory and its processes as fundamental to the understanding of the unconscious. Prince outlines the theory of memory not just as conscious recall but as a complex process involving registration, conservation, and reproduction of experiences. He emphasizes the significance of subconscious processes, suggesting that many aspects of human behavior and personality are influenced by elements of past experiences that may not be consciously remembered. Through various examples, including hypnosis and automatic writing, Prince illustrates how forgotten memories can be conserved and subsequently accessed, setting the stage for deeper discussions on the dynamics of human personality in later chapters.