Lecture 7 Flashcards
What is hypnosis?
An altered state of awareness resulting in physical or physiological changes, where there may be a distortion of emotion, sensation, image and time (Waxman, 1981).
- critical powers decrease and suggestibility increases
Main changes in hypnotising someone
redistributed attention, enhanced ability to fantasize, increased role taking, reduce reality testing.
What is the surrounding misconception of hypnosis
that is is sleep. Alpha waves are produced meaning the subject is awake. Sleep would induce delta waves.
Is a person in a hypnotic state suggestible to anything?
No, anything that is against their moral values, they will not do (they will wake up). Unless they are predisposed to it, such as committing murder if you have murderous intent in their personality.
What are some different hypnotisability tests?
Eye roll test
backwards falling test and hand-clasp test. 2
What does the eye roll test entail?
Looking to the top of your head and then subsequently closing your eyes. 85% successful with good subjects.
What does the backwards falling test entail?
Hypnotist is standing behind subject counting from 1-10. i.e 1 your’re beginning to fall backwards, 2 you are falling further. Easier they fall, easier their susceptibility.
What does the hand clasp test entail?
Involved clasping hands firmly together and interlocked slightly above eye level. Hypnotist counts backwards from 10-0, each number gripping your hands tighter and tighter. At 0, good subjects find it nearly impossible to unclasp their fingers.
Hypnoidal Trance
Achieved by everyone, lightest state of trance,. might occur when your are absorbed in a novel or relaxing.
Light trance
achieved by 95% of people. Evident when the person cannot open eyes when told they will not be able to,, shallow and slow breathing, and immobility of the limbs,.
Medium trance
achievable by 70% of people. Similar to light trance, but subject can usually be manipulated and left in certain positions and hands can be made to lose feeling.
Deep trance
achievable by 25% of people. Where people can hallucinate and suggestions are more powerful. Person can open their eyes without effecting their trance.
Somnambulism
Achievable by 2% of people. People in this stage can walk around and talk whilst in hypnotic state. Person who reaches this level will have no memory of what they did when they wake from the hypnotic state.
What is the ‘role theory’ of hypnosis? non state theory
A person simply plays the role of the hypnotic subject and follows instructions, cooperating with the hypnotist.
What is Hilgard’s dissociation theory? state theory
Hyponotised people experience an altered state of consciousness. Compliance with the social role. There is also real change in mental processes.
What are the 5 main changes people display during hypnosis? (Hilgard)
Reduced planfulness, redistributed attention, increased ability to fantasise , increased role taking, reduced reality testing.
What do the biological actions of the drugs induce?
They will either act as an agonist (mimic neurotransmitter) or antagonist (preventing neurotransmitters from binding with receptor and inhibit neurotransmitter activity, Then subsequent experience.
Are drug effects determined by biochemistry alone?
No, the underlying expectation of an experience can also play a role. ‘Placebo’ trials where individuals have experienced the same sorta thing.
What is addiction?
Functional impairment to prevent the onset of withdrawal symptoms
What are CNS depressant drugs and what do they do?
Reduces or depresses CNS activity partly by increasing activity of GABA, an inhibitory transmitter. Induces relaxation, drowsiness, depression. Alcohol, barbiturates, gamma Hydroxybutyrate (GHB)
Amphetamines
Uppers/speed. Increased release of norepinephrine and dopamine (and decreases removal of these two). Decreases GABA activity.
Cocaine
Increases Increased norepinephrine and dopamine, however effects are short lived hence addictive nature.
Nicotine
Enhances the action of acetylcholine, increases the release of glutemate, activates dopamine related pleasure system, and stimulates endogenous cannabinoid and opioid systems.
MDMA
serotonin agonist and increases activity of dopamine neurons. Positive effects decrease with continued use and negative effects persist/exacerbate.
LSD
Stimulates serotonin receptors in the forebrain. Paranoia, panic attacks and flashbacks.
Ketamine
Causes dissociative feelings that people decribe as “out of body”. Anaesthetic for critically ill patients or from suppressing dangerous seizures.
Marijuana
THC alters blood flow to many regions. Induces restlessness, hilarity followed by carefree relaxation, vivid sensations, food cravings.
Marijuana and Psychosis
Definite association between the use of cannabis and incidence of psychosis. Little research has been done to exhibit causal relationship.
What are the predisposing factors in addiction?
Genetics, social factors (peer pressure, learning, advertising) , personality factors (sensation seeking, neuroticism, rebelliousness).
