Chapter 2 Definitions

Question 1

State of Consciousness (SOC)

Answer 1

An individual’s level of awareness of internal events and external surroundings.

• An individual experiences a range of SOC’s throughout the day.

Question 2

Streams of consciousness

Answer 2

Consciousness is an ever-changing stream of thoughts that can shift smoothly from one moment to the next - like water flowing in a stream.

Question 3

Normal Waking Consciousness (NWC)

Answer 3

The states of consciousness that we experience when we are awake and alert and are aware of our thoughts, feelings and perceptions from internal events and the surrounding environment.

Question 4

Awareness

Answer 4

Relates to how conscious or aware you are of internal and/or external events.

Question 5

Continuum of awareness

Answer 5

The levels of awareness that can be experienced, from deep unconsciousness to heightened awareness, on a continuous scale including normal waking states and altered states of consciousness - It is presented on a continuous scale.

Question 6

Attention

Answer 6

Relates to the information that you are actively processing, either consciously or even outside your conscious awareness.

Question 7

Selective attention

Answer 7

Refers to the limitations placed on how much we can focus on at any given moment on one stimulus or event to the exclusion of others.

Question 8

Selective inattention

Answer 8

When you avoid attending to information that may be relevant but emotionally upsetting.

• Can be helpful or unhelpful.

Question 9

Divided attention

Answer 9

Refers to the capacity to attend to and perform two or more tasks at the same time.

Question 10

Automatic processes

Answer 10

Processes that require very little awareness or mental effort to be performed well and generally don’t interfere with other automatic or controlled processes.

• Requires very little attention, allows you to do two things at once.

Question 11

Controlled processes

Answer 11

Processes that require mental effort to focus attention on the required task.

• You are unable to complete another controlled process at the same time as they both require your full attention and will interfere with each other.

Question 12

Perceptual and cognitive distortions

Answer 12

The degree of awareness and efficiency of your perceptions and cognitions (memory and thought processes).

Question 13

Content limitations

Answer 13

The amount of control you have to limit what you attend to.

Question 14

Altered state of consciousness

Answer 14

Any state of consciousness that deviates from NWC, in terms of marked differences in the level of awareness, perceptions, memories, thinking, emotions, sense of time and place etc.

Question 15

Psychoactive drugs

Answer 15

Chemical substances that affect the nervous system and brain activity. As a result they impact on our consciousness by altering thoughts, feelings, perceptions and behaviours.

Question 16

Daydream

Answer 16

When we shift our attention to our private thoughts, feelings and imagined scenarios.

DAYDREAMING IS REGARDED AS AN ASC.

Question 17

Meditation

Answer 17

Induces an ASC in which a person uses mental exercises to become highly focused on a single thought to the exclusion of others.

Question 18

Consciousness

Answer 18

Can be defined as the awareness of our own thoughts, feelings and perceptions (internal events) and our surroundings (external stimuli) at any given moment.