Characteristics of Consciousness Flashcards
Define: awareness
How conscious we are of our internal and external environment (see continuum of awareness)
How is awareness measured?
By attention
Define: attention
A concentration of mental activity involving focusing on specific (internal or external) stimuli while ignoring others.
Can attention shift both intentionally or unintentionally?
Yes
What are the 2 types of attention?
Selective and divided attention
Define: selective attention
Choosing to focus on a specific stimulus whilst ignoring others.
**Focusing on one task at the exclusion of others
Under what circumstances is attention most likely to be selective?
If stimulus is new, changing, difficult or personally important.
Explain why we can still process parts of stimulus that we don’t selectively attend to
There is a “focus” and a “background” when we selectively attend to things, we may process part of the background.
Define: divided attention
The ability to distribute awareness between two or more tasks simultaneously.
**Focusing on multiple tasks simultaneously
Under what circumstances is attention more likely to be divided?
Lower effort, less complex and more experienced.
Is content limited in selective attention?
Yes.
Define: content limitations
The extent to which a person can control what they attend to
Define: controlled process
Tasks requiring high levels of conscious awareness and mental awareness to complete
What type of attention is most likely to be used in controlled processes?
Selective
Define: automatic process
tasks requiring minimal conscious awareness and mental effort to complete.
Does automatic processes usually require selective attention?
No
What are 3 differences between controlled and automatic processes?
Controlled processes are usually serial (one activity at a time) and automatic are parallel (more than one activity at a time)
Controlled processes occur when the task is new or difficult, unlike automatic processes
Controlled processes are usually slow but may become automatic processes with practise.
Briefly describe the stroop effect
Names of colours and their actual colours were mismatched.
Define: perceptual distortion
Changes in what a person notices, based on their senses. (perception=senses)
Define: cognitive distortion
Impairment of mental processes and memory
Define: time orientation
The ability to estimate the passage of time.
Define: self-control
The ability to control (monitor) emotions and behaviours.
What are the characterstics to describe NWC?
Awareness
Attention
Content limitations
Controlled and automatic processes
What are the characteristcs used to describe ASCs?
Perceptual and cognitive disortions
Time orientation
Self control
Emotional awareness
