awareness

Awareness, in psychology, refers to the state of being conscious of something, encompassing attention, knowledge, and perception. It is the perception of what is happening within one's own mind. This concept is closely related to consciousness, which describes being awake, alert, and aware of one's surroundings.123

Psychology has explored awareness through various lenses. Early views considered consciousness as a distinct mental substance or an attribute separating humans and animals. Behaviorism, however, largely ignored consciousness as a subject of scientific study, focusing instead on observable behavior. Modern understanding acknowledges that consciousness depends on brain function, with specific patterns of brain activity correlating to different states of awareness. The unconscious mind also plays a role, referring to mental activities that occur without conscious awareness but can still influence behavior.24