THE INNER CONSCIOUSNESS

[Human Per]sonality," in which he states: "The idea of a threshold of consciousness—of a level above which sensation or thought must rise before it can enter into our conscious life—is a simple and familiar one. The word Subliminal Subliminal: From the Latin sub (under) and limen (threshold).—meaning 'beneath the threshold'—has already been used to define those sensations which are too feeble to be individually recognized. I propose to extend the meaning of the term, so as to make it cover all that takes place beneath the ordinary threshold, or say, if preferred, the ordinary margin of consciousness.

This includes not only those faint stimulations, whose very faintness must keep them submerged, but much else which psychology as yet scarcely recognizes: sensations, thoughts, and emotions, which may be strong, definite, and independent, but which, by the innate nature original: "original constitution" of our being, seldom merge into that Supraliminal Supraliminal: From the Latin supra (above) and limen (threshold); this refers to thoughts and feelings that exist above the threshold of consciousness, making up our normal waking awareness. current of consciousness which we habitually identify with ourselves.

Perceiving that these submerged thoughts and emotions possess the characteristics which we associate with conscious life, I feel bound to speak of a Subliminal, or Ultra-marginal Ultra-marginal: From the Latin ultra (beyond); referring to thoughts existing outside the "margins" or borders of our usual awareness., Consciousness—a consciousness which we shall see, for instance, uttering or writing sentences quite as complex and coherent as the supraliminal consciousness could make them. Perceiving further that this conscious life beneath the threshold or beyond the margin seems to be no discontinuous or intermittent...