Chapter 2 - Normal Waking Consciousness And Altered States Of Conciousness

Question 1

Consciousness

Answer 1

Refers to the awareness of our own thoughts, feelings and perceptions (internal events) and our surroundings (external stimuli) at any given moment. It includes all the experiences that we are consciously aware of at any particular time.

Question 2

State Of Consciousness

Answer 2

Refers to the level of awareness of internal events and external surroundings. States of consciousness include normal waking consciousness (divided attention) and altered states of consciousness such as focused selective attention, daydreaming, sleeping, anaesthetised and comatose.

Question 3

Normal Waking Consciousness

Answer 3

Refers to the sates of consciousness you experience when you are awake and aware of your thoughts, feelings and perceptions from internal events and the surrounding environment.

Question 4

Altered State Of Consciousness

Answer 4

Refers to any state of consciousness that deviates from normal waking consciousness, in terms of marked differences in the level of awareness, perceptions, memories, thinking, emotions, behaviours and sense of time, place and self-control.

Question 5

Awareness

Answer 5

Relates to how conscious or aware you are of internal (within your body) and/or external (within your environment) events. Your level of awareness influences the other characteristics of consciousness.

Question 6

Continuum Of Awareness

Answer 6

Different levels of awareness ranging from deep unconsciousness to heightened awareness. Normal waking consciousness tends to occupy the middle section of the continuum, with reduced awareness as an altered state of consciousness below and heightened awareness as an altered state of consciousness above.

Question 7

Attention

Answer 7

Relates to the information that you are actively processing, either consciously or even outside your conscious awareness. Attention overlaps with consciousness, as what you are consciously aware of is often also the focus of attention. Attention may be broadly classified into selective attention, selective inattention and divided attention.

Question 8

Selective Attention

Answer 8

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

Question 9

Selective Inattention

Answer 9

The avoidance of attending to information that may be relevant but emotionally upsetting.

Question 10

Divided Attention

Answer 10

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

Question 11

Automatic Processes

Answer 11

Require very little awareness or mental effort to be performed well and they generally don’t interfere with other automatic or controlled processes. Automatic processes enable s to have divided attention - if a task requires little mental effort and attention, we can often engage in other tasks at the same time.

Question 12

Controlled Processes

Answer 12

Require full awareness and mental effort to focus attention on the required task. Controlled processes require selective attention - a person must actively focus attention in order to successfully complete the task.