Self-Conscious Self-Coercion

Considering the concept of the function of learning (as in my last post; Learning Learning”), which involves the 2 types, being subconscious and conscious learning, what effective methods can be implemented by utilizing both types?

Since the human mind seems to function by regularly using both types, there should be methods to effectively use each in its advantageous situation. Subconscious learning can be understood as basically, the experience of a scenario causing negative or positive feedback for the individual to avoid or pursue (respectively) those basic circumstances in the future. Whereas conscious learning can be understood as actively accessing multiple memories relative to the circumstances, to distinguish more accurate positive or negative factors within the scenario.

In a previous post “Conscious Conditioning”, I hypothesized 1 method, of utilizing conscious awareness and consideration for generally most new scenarios, to be aware of and focus on certain negative or positive factors of the circumstances. Doing this multiple times should cause the negative or positive feedback repeatedly, until the subconscious is manipulated to automatically take the beneficial action for that scenario. Once the subconscious is conditioned, reactions to that scenario can be faster than alternatively always using conscious analysis. This is likely a slow method of conditioning your subconscious, since being consciously aware of the negative or positive cause or effect of a specific factor, usually doesn’t create profound feedback for the subconscious to remember quickly and easily.

Another very similar method of consciously conditioning your subconscious, would be to intentionally reward yourself using an external element, rather than mindful internal focus on negative or positive factors of the scenario. Using an external source for positive feedback is likely to have more of a profound influence on the subconscious memory. The external source can be basically anything that you enjoy, which creates positive feedback for your mind. Examples: good food, alcohol, relaxing, fun video games, good music, or even nicotine. Using the similar methodology, of consciously analyzing an action that you do, to be aware of specific positive effects (that your subconscious would not be aware of, or have a positive reaction to) of that action, you can then use this specific method of implementing an external positive reinforcement element. While implementing this method, it may seem unobvious that you are changing anything, but that is because it’s a manipulation of your subconscious, of which your active comprension is not aware. An example of this method that I often use, is; after I complete 1 of these “philosophical” writings that I do, I intentionally cause positive feedback by having a beer or glass of wine, & or eating a tasty snack or meal. I consciously analysed that, I believe completing these writings is a positive action. Since my subconscious would not necessarily give profound positive feedback for this task accomplishment, I use an external source for more profound positive feedback, to manipulate my subconscious into the drive of pursue writing.

These 2 methods of self-coercion, should be an effective way to cause yourself to automatically pursue something which you’ve analyzed to be beneficial, or avoid situations which you’ve consciously determined to be harmful or less preferable. Once you’ve conditioned your mind, you will have that drive without even knowing it. With this subconscious drive, it is likely to also affect subtle influence on other actions to pursue or avoid that circumstance, where as you wouldn’t have consciously considered to take that direction otherwise. Being consciously aware of circumstances, of yourself, and of this concept, can be an effective method of self-coercion.