What term describes material that is not currently in awareness but is readily accessible?

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Get ready for the UCF PSY2012 General Psychology Exam. Practice with hints and explanations to improve your understanding. Master your exam preparation today!

The term that describes material that is not currently in awareness but is readily accessible is "preconscious." The preconscious mind contains thoughts and memories that may not be immediately available in our conscious awareness but can be easily brought to consciousness when needed. For example, recalling a friend's phone number or remembering a certain fact that you aren’t actively thinking about at the moment are instances of preconscious material.

In contrast, the conscious mind encompasses what one is currently aware of, while the unconscious refers to thoughts and memories that are not accessible at all, often because they are repressed or too difficult for an individual to confront. The subconscious, although sometimes used interchangeably with the unconscious in popular contexts, is not a formally recognized term in psychology that describes a specific level of awareness. Hence, preconscious is the most accurate term for describing material that is not actively in awareness but can be easily accessed.