I may have missed your question Equus, I think the conscious is governed by physical, mental and emotional pulls. I consciously chose to ignore my "better judgement" when drinking, I justified behaviour, I consciously did not recognise some of my problems and issues. They were pushed away so that I could continue to do what I was doing in "good conscience". I still have some of these tendencies.
Have to go ... thinking about if I do consciously recognise stuff ...