CHANGES IN A PERSONS PSYCHOLOGICAL OR PHYSIOLOGICAL STATE (CHARACTERISTICS) - 7 / CONTINUUM OF CONSCIOUSNESS

Question 1

1) DEFINITION: LEVEL OF AWARENESS
* NOTE: Attention involves focusing on specific stimuli and ignoring others (Selective attention)

• NWC: High awareness. Able to complete automatic and controlled processes
• ASC: Low awareness of internal / external environments

Answer 1

• The level of attention or concentration being used / focused on internal (within the body) or external (with the environment) stimuli in order to complete a task or think about something
• Focus can be shifted either INTENTIONALLY or UNINTENTIONALLY

Question 2

2) DEFINITION: CONTENT LIMITATIONS
- More restricted = NWC
- Less restricted = ASC

• Describing content limitations
• Being broad
• Being narrow
• Being less
• Being more controlled
• NWC: Control thoughts. Process many different pieces of information at the same time
• ASC: Unable to block unacceptable or undesirable thoughts from entering consciousness. The amount of information processed is LIMITED

Answer 2

• The ability during NWC to control what a person thinks in order to make logical, realistic thought patterns
• NWC: thoughts are “more restricted”
• ASC: Thoughts are “less restricted” = irrational, logical, creative, impossible, fantasy, etc.

Question 3

3) DEFINITION: SENSATION AND PERCEPTUAL DISTORTIONS
* Hallucinations: See images or HEAR voices that are not there
* Delusions: False beliefs

• NWC: Accurately perceive the world. Experience sensations that are real
• ASC: Distorted perceptions of the world. May experience hallucinations or delusions. Reduces or heightens the experience of PAIN

Answer 3

• In NWC: We expect reality
• The processing of organizing sensory input and giving it meaning
• e.g. Changes in pain (dull or heightened)
• e.g. Changes in sight (clearer or blurred)

Question 4

4) DEFINITION: COGNITIVE DISTORTIONS
- NWC = Good working memory

• NWC: Think logically and clearly. Able to memorize and recall information accurately
• ASC: illogical thoughts that are fragmented. Unable to remember information accurately

Answer 4

• Relates to mental activities such as thinking, memory, language and problem solving
• e.g. Changes in memory (less accurate or problems with storing and forming)
• e.g. Changes in problem solving ability (Disorganized and illogical thinking in ASC = decrease problem solving)

Question 5

5) DEFINITION: CHANGES IN EMOTINAL AWARENESS

• NWC: Experience emotions that are appropriate
• ASC: May be dulled or heightened. May not be appropriately expressed

Answer 5

• The way we experience emotions
• Emotions can be intensified, blunted or totally inappropriate for the situation
• ASC: some people have inappropriate emotions or emotional reactions
• e.g May laugh at a funeral
• e.g. Cry when given a present
• e.g. Become angry and violent when someone smiles at them

Question 6

6) DEFINITION: CHANGES IN SELF CONTROL
* People who are hypnotized = less inhibited

• NWC: Coordinate a sequence of movements
• ASC: Loss of inhibitions. Unable to coordinate actions and behaviors

Answer 6

• Self control can CHANGE in two ways
  = Risk taking and control if inhibitions
  = Control of physical coordination and control
  ASC: Self control is often compromised
• As a result of excessive consumption of alcohol:
  = Reduce people’s inhibitions
  = Increase risk-taking
  = Physical coordination and the ability to control body movement is also reduced

Question 7

7) DEFINITION: TIME ORIENTATION
* NOTE: talking about the PASSAGE of time

• NWC: Fairly accurately perceive the amount of time that has passed
• ASC: Unable to accurately perceive time. Feeling as if time passes faster or slower

Answer 7

• NWC: perception of time is usually accurate

- Sac: time may seem to go more quickly or more slowly