Final answer:
Unconscious thought processes, as analyzed by Freud, can influence perception, contributing to phenomena such as blindsight and perceptual errors. The unconscious mind contains thoughts and urges that are repressed and not readily accessible, which can surface under certain conditions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The phenomenon where conscious or unconscious thought processes influence perception and can lead to blindsight and perceptual errors is attributed to unconscious mental activity. Sigmund Freud provided a landmark analysis of the conscious and unconscious mind, likening the mind to an iceberg with a tiny visible tip representing our consciousness and a much larger unseen section representing the unconscious.
The unconscious mind consists of those mental processes that we are not aware of and cannot readily access. Freud further explained that repression keeps unacceptable urges and desires in our unconscious. Instances such as a Freudian slip, where unintended words are spoken, happen due to an unconscious urge or desire revealing itself, especially when we are fatigued, stressed, or not functioning cognitively at our best.