CONSCIOUSNESS Flashcards
conscious
being awake and are (and with control)
unconscious
being asleep, knocked out , unaware
The Unconscious
unaware memories, desires
Consciousness
- a mental state
- may involve thoughts, sensations, perceptions, moods, dreams, self-awareness
- subjective experience
Altered stated of Consciousness (ASCs) and examples
non ordinary states of consciousness:
- sleep
- meditation
- hypnosis
- psychoactive substances
- trance/dissociation
General characteristics of ASCs
- alterations in thinking
- disturbed sense of time
- loss of control
- body image change
- perceptual distortions
- hypersuggestibility
- feelings of rejuvenation
Mapping ASCs:
Fisher’s Model
From EGOTROPHIC =sympathetic to
TROPHOTROPIC =parasympathetic
very over simplistic and only physiological
Mapping ASCs:
Tart’s Approach
[grid of high and low states of rationality and hallucinate]
State 1- ordinary consciousness
State 2- REM/dreaming
State 3- Lucid dreaming
an open system for categorising
Investigating ASCs
- brain imaging techniques
- cognitive tests
- subjective reports
- state questionnaires
Electroencephalograph (EEG)
- measures electromagnetic variation of the scalp
- different states if alertness founds to exhibit different wave forms
EEG results and different wave lengths
Beta-highly alert
Alpha- relaxed
Theta - drowsy
Delta- deep sleep
Rapid eye movement (REM)
dreams are more visually vivid, emotional and illogical
Non-rapid eye movement
NREM
dreams are more directly related to waking life
hypnagogic
liminal waking-sleeping stage
hypnopompic
liminal sleep-waking stage -prove to anomalous experiences such as sleep paralysis
Opponent Process Model:
Homeostatic sleep drive (nocturnal)
physiological process strives to sleep
Opponent Process Model:
Clock-dependent altering process (diurnal)
- biological clock rouses sleeper
- operate circadian rhythm
Opponent Process Model
2 opposing drives interact to proceed daily cycle- controlled by neuro-hormonal/chemical processes
Neurochemical basis of sleep and dreaming
-pineal controls sleep hormone /neurotransmitter production-sensitive to light
serotonin= alert converted to melatonin=sleep
-pineal also thought to produce DMT (an endogenous hallucinogenic) through to regulate dreams
Lucid dreams
- dreamer is aware they are dreaming and has some control over the dream
- related to internal ‘locus of control’
- can be learnt
Theories of dreaming:
Dreams as wishful fulfilment of unconscious (Freud)
- dreams symbolise fears and unfulfilled desires
- communication between unconscious and consciousness
- disguised and symbolically to avoid guilt and anxiety
- can be decoded to reveal underlying psychology
Theories of dreaming:
dreams as memory consolidation
- function of sleep is to transfer from short term memory to long term memory
- NREM for conscious memory/ REM for unconscious memory
- little support
- suggestions of long term memory firings are actually dreams
Hypnosis
heightened state of suggestibility or responsiveness
Features of hypnosis
- suggestibility is increased
- attention is selective
- enriched fantasy readily evoked
- reality testing reduced
- post-hypnotic amnesia can be suggested
Susceptibility to hypnosis
- 10% to 50% cannot be hypnotised
- no significant gender, IQ, or educational level
- susceptibility peaks before puberty, stabilises in adulthood and decreases in older age
- several scales available to measure susceptibility
Barber Suggestibility Scale
- Arm lowering
- Arm levitation
- Hand lock
- Thirst hallucination
- V erbal inhibition
- Body immobility
- Post hypnotic-like response
- Selective Amnesia
Hypnotherapy uses
- reduction I pre surgery anxiety
- overcoming addictions
- treating emotional problems
Benefits of hypnosis and dreams
pyschoanalysis
Benefits of psychedelics
addiction cessation, PTSD, death anxiety
Benefits of meditation
insight, reduction of stress and anxiety
State theories of hypnosis:
Hidden observer theory
-control system is outside of consciousness awareness
State theories of hypnosis:
neo-dissociation theory
- multiple levels of control
- executive ego controls and monitors control systems
- hypnotised gives up some control to hypnotist
Non state theories of hypnosis
- solely belief, compliance and imagination
- combination of experience and suggestion
