Higher-Order Thought Theory (HOTT) posits that a mental state becomes conscious only when accompanied by a separate, higher-order thought about that state. According to HOTT, lower-order states—like a raw sensory perception or an emotion—are completely unconscious on their own. Consciousness arises exclusively when the mind generates a distinct, meta-representation that target-monitors the lower-order state, effectively representing oneself as being in that specific mental condition at that moment.

Other Resources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Higher-order_theories_of_consciousness
https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/consciousness-higher/