How does the conscious differ from the conscience?

Being conscious is the state of being awake and alert.

Conscience, on the other hand, refers to an awareness of whether actions are right or wrong.

These two terms are sometimes confused in common everyday usage because they sound quite similar.

However, as you could see, they mean very different things within thefield of psychology.

As described below, being conscious refers to your awareness of yourself and the world around you.

Your conscience is your ability to distinguish between what is right and what is wrong.

What Does Conscience Mean?

One way a childs sense of morality might develop is through their caregiver’s rules.

What Does Conscious Mean?

Yourconsciousis yourawareness of yourselfand the world around you.

In the most general terms, it means being awake and aware.

Some experts suggest that you are considered conscious of something if you are able to put it into words.

Not only can you be consciousas in awakebut you could also be consciousas in awareof your thoughts and feelings.

It is what we are aware of and can describe and articulate clearly.

The largest part of the iceberg actually lies below the surface of the water.

What Is Consciousness?

“For example, memories can be conscious, but consciousness is not just memory.

Perceptions can be conscious, but consciousness is not just perception.”

The conscious and consciousness can be difficult to pin down.

Conscience

They had a guilty conscience because they cheated on the test.

The person was afraid they would lose consciousness by fainting when they saw blood.

However, they didn’t faint and stayed awake and aware of their surroundings.

They were conscious of the fact that everyone was staring at them.

The term conscious here describes the awareness of the person who noticed that everyone was looking at them.

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Kochanska G, Aksan N.Childrens conscience and self-regulation.J Pers.

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APA Dictionary of Psychology.Iceberg metaphor.

Bernstein D, Penner LA, Clarke-Stewart A, Roy E.Psychology.

Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company; 2008.

James W. The Stream of Consciousness.

Cleveland & New York, World; 1892.

Kalat, J. W.Introduction to Psychology.

Belmont, CA: Wadsworth; 2014.