I&P Consciousness

Question 1

Consciousness

Answer 1

Aware of self and surroundings - operates on a continuum

No agreed definition of consciousness

Question 2

How do we know there are altered states of consciousness?

Answer 2

Can describe the subjective experience but struggle to explain how its different and often can’t be remembered!

Question 3

Mind body dualism

Answer 3

The subjective vs. the objective report
Objective - you know the pencil exists
Subjective - is this the same experience of the pencil everyone else has?

Question 4

The Hard Problem

Answer 4

Chalmers - tries to explain how physical processes in the brain give rise to this subjective experience in consciousness.

Question 5

Monitoring view of consciousness

Answer 5

Focus attention, only experience what you attend to. You can shift your focus
However inattentional blindness

Question 6

Controlling view of consciousness

Answer 6

We plan, initiate and guide our future actions

Question 7

Visuomotor control

Answer 7

always unconscious

Question 8

Biofeedback

Answer 8

normally unconscious but can be brought under conscious control

Question 9

Skilled actions

Answer 9

Skilled actions can be learned with a conscious effort but then become unconscious

Question 10

Subliminal perception

Answer 10

Where stimuli is a below an individuals threshold for conscious perception!

Question 11

Thought suppression

Answer 11

Can you stop thinking about something? Shown in the Ironic Process theory!. A intentional operative process creates the desired mental state but an ironic monitoring process signals the failure of mental control!

Question 12

Meditation

Answer 12

1) Concentrative or one point meditation - attentional effort, repeating mantras, relaxing movements
2) Open meditations - aware of everything around but the experience is not met with a response e.g. mindfulness

Question 13

Hypnosis

Answer 13

A social interaction in which the subject responds to suggestions by the hypnotist
Alters perception memory and voluntary action

Question 14

Two views of hypnosis

Answer 14

Altered Consciousness - a divided stream of consciousness while hypnotised

Period of focused attention - 60% said they knew what was occurring but had a state of social compliance and suggestibility!

Question 15

Hypnosis and pain relief

Answer 15

Not standard analgesis
Moderately effect however, requires top down processing.
Aware of other senses, must first be aware of pain to know to ignore it
Requires clinical training, induction technique, mental imagery and self-cue to allow hypnosis.