Chapter 7 Flashcards
Biological Rhythms
Periodic psychological fluctuations
Consciousness
Our awareness of ourselves and our environment
Circadian Rhythm
The biological clock; regular bodily rhythms that occur on a 24 hour cycle (for example: of temperature and wakefulness)
REM Sleep
Rapid eye movement sleep, a recurring sleep stage during which vivid dreams commonly occur. Also known as paradoxical sleep, because the muscles are relaxed (except for minor twitches) but other bodily systems are active
Alpha Waves
Relatively slow brain waves of a relaxed, awake state
Sleep
Periodic, natural, reversible loss of consciousness - as distinct from unconsciousness resulting from a coma, general anesthesia, or hibernation
Hallucinations
False sensory experiences, such as seeing something in the absence of an external visual stimulus
Delta Waves
The large, slow brain waves associated with deep sleep
Insomnia
Recurring problems in falling or staying asleep
Narcolepsy
A sleep disorder characterized by uncontrollable sleep attacks. The sufferer may lapse directly into REM sleep, often at inopportune times
Sleep Apnea
A sleep disorder characterized by temporary cessations of breathing during sleep and repeated momentary awakenings
Night Terrors
A sleep disorder characterized by high arousal and an appearance of being terrified; unlike nightmares, night terrors occur during stage 4 sleep, within 2-3 hours of falling asleep, and seldom remembered
Dream
A sequence of images, emotions, and brought passing through a sleeping persons mind, notable for their hallucinatory imagery, discontinuity, incongruities, and dreamers delusional acceptance of the content and difficulties remembering it
Freud’s Wish-Fulfillment
Dreams provide a “psychic safely valve” - expressing otherwise unacceptable feelings; contain manifest (remembered) content and a deeper layer of latent content - a hidden meaning
Manifest Content
According to Freud, the remembered storyline of a dream (as distinct from its latent, or hidden content)
Latent Content
According to Freud, the underlying meaning of a dream (as distinct from its manifest content). Freud believed that a dreams latent content functions as a safety valve
REM Rebound
The tendency for REM sleep to increase following REM sleep deprivation (created by repeated awakenings during REM sleep)
Hypnosis
A social interaction in which one person (the hypnotist) suggests to another (the subject) that certain perceptions, feelings, thoughts, or behaviors will spontaneously occur
Posthypnotic Suggestion
A suggestion, made during a hypnosis session, to be carried out after the subject is no longer hypnotized; used by some clinicians to help control undesired symptoms and behaviors
Dissociation (Divided-Consciousness Theory)
A split in consciousness, which allows some thoughts and behaviors to occur simultaneously with others (Hilgard)
Psychoactive Drug
A chemical substance that alters perceptions and mood
Tolerance
The diminishing effect with regular use of the same dose of a drug, requiring the user to take larger and larger doses before experiencing the drugs effect
Withdrawal
The discomfort and distress that follow discontinuing the use of an active drug
Physical Dependence
A physiological need for a drug, marked by unpleasant withdrawal symptoms when the drug is discontinued
Psychological Dependence
A psychological need to use a drug, such as to relieve negative emotions
Addiction
Compulsive drug craving and use
Depressants
Drugs (such as alcohol, barbituates, and opiates) that reduce neural activity and slow body functions
Barbiturates
Drugs that depress the activity of the central nervous system, reducing anxiety but imparting memory and judgement
Opiates
Opium and it’s derivatives, such as morphine and heroin; they depress neural activity, temporarily lessening pain and anxiety
Stimulants
Drugs (such as caffeine, nicotine, and the more powerful amphetamines, caffeine and ecstasy) that excite neural activity and speed up body functions
Amphetamines
Drugs that stimulate neural activity, causing speeded-up body functions and associated energy and mood changes
Methamphetamines
A powerfully addictive drug that stimulated the central nervous system, with speeded-up body functions and associated energy and mood changes; over time, appears to reduce baseline dopamine levels
Ecstasy ( MDMA)
A synthetic stimulant and mild hallucinogen. Produces euphoria and social intimacy, but with short-term health risks and long-term harm to Seratonin-producing neurons and to mood and cognition
Hallucinogens
Psychedelic (“mind-manifesting”) drugs, such as LSD, that distort perceptions and evoke sensory images in the pce of pp inputtingp
LSD
A powerful hallucinogenic drug; also known as acid (laserdisc acid diethlyamide)
THC
The major active ingredient in marijuana; triggers a variety of effects, including mild hallucinations
Near-Death Experience
An altered state of consciousness reported after a close brush with death (such as through cardiac arrest); often similar to drug induced hallucinations
Dualism
The presumption that mind and body are two distinct entities that interact
Monism
The presumption that mind and body are different aspects of the same thing
Earnest Hilgard
Viewed hypnotic dissociation as a vivid form of everyday mind splits. Believed that hypnosis involved not only social influence but also a special state of dissociated (divided) consciousness
Anton Mesmer
Credit for modern popularity of hypnosis goes to Anton Mesmer. He thought he had discovered an “animal magnetism”. He would pass magnets over the bodies or ailing people, some of whom would lapse into a trancelike (mesmerized) state, then awaken much improved
Information Processing
Dreams help us sort out the day’s events and consolidate our memories
Psychological Function
Regular brain stimulation from REM sleep may develop and preserve neural pathways
Activation- Synthesis
REM sleep triggers impulses that evoke random visual memories, which our sleeping brain weaves into stories
Cognitive Development
Dream content reflects dreamers’ cognitive development - their knowledge and understanding
Non-REM Sleep
Stage 1-4 dreamless sleep
Social Influence Theory
Hypnotic phenomenon are not unique to hypnosis (Theodore Barber)
Theodore Barber
Social influence theory hypnotist, ideas became subject thoughts (social influence theory)
Age Regression
Hypnotized to re-live ones past
