Subliminal: the new unconsciousSubliminal: the new unconscious
All In The Mind
Leonard Mlodinow is a theoretical physicist who’s turned his mind to the unconscious. Not the unconscious mind of Freudian fame which was examined through psychoanalysis in the 19th century – but a new science of the unconscious made possible by technologies which reveal the physiology of our brains. We discuss the hidden forces that rule our behaviour.
28:50•6 Jan 2013
Subliminal Minds: How Hidden Brain Processes Steer Everyday Choices
Episode Overview
- Unconscious processes are automatic brain modules that strongly shape perception and behaviour without conscious access.
- New technologies like fMRI link psychological experiments to specific brain activity, reshaping ideas about the unconscious.
- Subtle cues such as touch, music and branding can significantly influence decisions in social situations and shopping.
- Life experiences and emotions, including trauma and mood, feed into unconscious interpretations of everyday events.
- Learning about unconscious influences can increase self-knowledge and help people question their reactions and choices more carefully.
“All of our perceptions and all of our judgments and decisions are not completely objective, but are fed into by factors that we're not aware of.”
What drives someone to seek a clearer picture of why they think, feel and act the way they do? This episode of *All In The Mind* takes on that question by looking at the "new" unconscious and the subtle forces shaping everyday behaviour. Host Lynne Malcolm chats with theoretical physicist Leonard Mlodinow, whose book *Subliminal: How Your Unconscious Mind Rules Your Behavior* pulls together cutting-edge brain imaging, psychology experiments and personal stories.
He explains that unconscious processes are automatic, effortless and largely out of reach, sitting in brain modules that your conscious mind simply can't access. As he puts it, "our unconscious mind is a gift" that lets you move through the world quickly and smoothly. You'll hear striking examples of how this hidden machinery works.
Lightly touching someone’s arm can double a stranger’s willingness to share their phone number, and background music in a wine aisle can quietly tip people towards French or German bottles without them realising. Mlodinow walks through neuromarketing, the Pepsi versus Coca-Cola "paradox", and brain scans showing how brand emotions literally change the way drinks taste.
Things get more personal when he talks about his mother’s Holocaust experiences and how trauma shaped the lens through which she interpreted everyday events, even something as simple as a missed phone call. He links this to research showing that moods, past experiences and even your own name can influence financial decisions, attraction and marriage patterns. Rather than leaving you feeling helpless, Mlodinow argues that learning about these unconscious effects gives you better self-knowledge.
Once you know that touch, context, mood and memory are constantly feeding into your "gut feelings", you can question your reactions and choices with a bit more curiosity and care. It’s a thoughtful invitation to ask: how aware are you of the subliminal influences in your own life?
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