Unconscious Ideation

Think about an iceberg. While 20% of it is visible above the surface of the ocean, 80% is often hidden, deep underneath so a person’s eye cannot see it completely. There’s a part of our brain that operates in a similar way. Unconscious ideation is a concept in psychology that refers to the “mental processing of thoughts, problem-solving, or emotional associations” that occur entirely outside of your active, conscious awareness. It represents the hidden 80% of the processes and thinking happening behind the scenes, beyond one’s conscious awareness. It’s exactly what makes all those aha moments and bulb-on moments possible.