When psychology is brought up, oftentimes what is mentioned are disorders and cognitive function, but in reality, that only scratches the surface. Psychology is a complex topic, and it is often present in everyday life, as are symbols. Symbols are everywhere, whether on the road or in our books, they are everywhere. How we process and identify connectors with symbols is where psychology comes in. Symbolism is not a hidden byproduct of the mind, but a result of how cognition, emotion, and memory interact to create meaning.
Symbols allow the brain to shortcut significance. Something that can be used to help analyze this is called semiotics. Semiotics is the study of signs and symbols, their uses and interpretations. A symbol consists of three main parts: The signifier, which is the symbol or image itself; the signified, which is the idea or meaning the symbol points to; and the link, which is what is learned, or implied by the symbol. The link is not natural; we’re taught what these symbols mean. So, for example, if your brain sees a dove, it may think of peace or purity, that is the signified, and this is not a matter to ponder; you just know, which is the link.
Symbols are extremely helpful for cognitive function because instead of analyzing the meaning of everything — leading to overthinking — the brain learns to recognize patterns, and therefore stores them to associated symbols. Once the signifier-signified link is learned, the recognition is instant. This is why a single image can carry layers of meaning without much explanation needed.
Symbols interact with the subconscious mind. The subconscious mind encompasses habits, emotional reactions, biases, memories, and other aspects. The subconscious mind is the background function. Approximately 5-10% of the mind is involved in conscious processing, which serves to show how vast the subconscious mind is. We can never access all of the subconscious mind at once, but we indirectly access it through dreams, art, symbols, introspection, and more. When you see symbols, it activates stored memories and feelings automatically, before conscious thoughts kick in. Symbols bypass the prefrontal cortex (the “thinking” brain) and go straight to the limbic system (the “emotional” brain), which is why they are so powerful. Your subconscious fills in meaning using personal experience, which is why symbols are undeniably compelling.
The same symbol can mean different things based on context. As aforementioned, symbols don’t carry meaning by themselves; the brain assigns meaning based on function. It is important to note that personal experience can rewire symbols, meaning your memories and emotions attach new meanings that override the “official” ones. It is also worth recognizing that situational context can change meaning. The same symbol in certain areas of life can be stored away as a pattern and, therefore, be more significant. The subconscious fills in “gaps” or gray areas in knowledge using mood, setting, and expectation before logic steps in.
Another important function of symbols is that they can make abstract ideas feel plausible. Many times, abstract ideas are amorphous, so the brain struggles to hold on to these ideas more than solid ideas. Symbols give abstract ideas a physical form — an image, object, or action — that the mind can latch onto. Once an idea has a form, the brain can treat it as real, and not distant or theoretical. The symbol triggers emotion and memory, making abstract ideas feel experienced instead of explained. Symbols turn hard-to-grasp concepts into something feasible.
We project ourselves onto symbols. This is to say that symbols are intentionally incomplete, so the brain fills in meaning with personal memories, emotions, and desires. When we interpret a symbol, we’re often reading ourselves into it, and not uncovering a fixed truth. The subconscious uses symbols as a safe container to express feelings we can’t name directly. That’s why one symbol can feel comforting to one person and unsettling to another. For instance darkness is often associated with the unknown. Perhaps for one person, it can be relaxing, settling, and retrospective, but for others, it may be terrifying, as it is most commonly associated with stillness, which can then be heightened into a threat. Though darkness is a shared and familiar symbol, it represents how the same concept can represent both comfort and fear depending on individual experience.
In conclusion, symbols are powerful bridges between the conscious and subconscious mind. They let the brain shortcut meaning, make abstract ideas tangible, and reflect personal experiences. Shaped by context, memory, and more, symbols are not fixed but dynamic mirrors that help us understand and navigate the world while revealing the depth of our own minds.
