Hi Ryan, "I personally tend toward verifying a model in my own experience. Having an orgasm is so much more satisfying that reading about one." Yeh I can appreciate that, I prefer the scientific research because then we know what we are dealing with.  I find the scientific method a more solid epistemology for determining the validity of a given model.  Subjective experiences can be clouded with too many other factors, placebo, interferance from wanting the model to work etc...  how do you remain objective when testing the model of the "unconscious" on yourself. How would you accurately distinguish between the terms "conscious" and "unconscious" in yourself, and more prevent your mind from intering with the process.  It just seems to be too muddled for providing sound and clear feedback.  How do you know when the model hasn't been used optimally, how do you know when it has when you test it on yourself.  With the subjective approach I see a whole host of problems that you wouldn't get from a scientific study. "Virtually no one conducts serious empirical research in which they use the term "unconscious mind." Researchers in Cognitive Neuro-Science conduct research into processes labeled, "sub-cortical" "parallel" (and others, I'll check with a friend of mine in that area and get back to you with some more specific terms) which could be interpreted as "unconscious"......I'll post some terms or refs in a few days" Great thanks, that would be very much appreciated! Best Wishes, GSM