In this section we will examine how Freud attempted to understand the origins of the mysterious thoughts, feelings, and impulses he observed in his clients, as well as in himself and other seemingly well-adjusted persons. Freud’s deduced that to the extent that you lack conscious understanding or control of your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, the sources of your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors must be unconscious. Specifically, Freud suggested that the mind could be divided into 3 regions: (1) the conscious mind—what is in awareness now, (2) the preconscious mind—easily accessed memories, and (3) the unconscious mind—threatening and repressed memories and current experiences. Freud believed that the most important personality dynamics were unconscious and were largely shaped during the oral, anal, and phallic stages of psychosexual development.