unit 4: states of conscientiousness Flashcards
behavioral psychology’s view of consciousness
the study of consciousness in psychology was discontinued for a time because behaviorists argued that it could not be critically analyzed . in recent years, however the study if consciousness has again become a large part of psychology
consciousness
defined as an awareness of ourselves and our environment
unconscious vs. conscious mind
your unconscious mind processes several things at one time (heart beat, breathing), while your conscious mind typically can only process things one at a time. (things you choose to do or think about)
“biological clocks”
- periodic physiological fluctuations
- these clocks control your biological rhythms
annual cycle (365 cycle)
energy peaks during specific times of the year
28-day cycle
the female menstrual cycle
circadian rhythm (daily cycle)
- 24 hour cycle, 25 in perfect conditions
- sleep/wakefulness cycle
90 minute sleep cycle
cycle through various stages of sleep
sleep stages in order
NREM stage 1 –> NREM stage 2 –> NREM stage 3 –> NREM stage 2 –> REM
beta waves
- REM sleep
- 15-40 cps
- awake & alert
alpha waves
- awake, but relaxed
- 9-14 cps
theta waves
- NREM stage 1
- 5-8 cps
- NREM stage 2
- 5-8 cps
- sleep spindles
delta waves
- NREM stage 3
- 1.5-4 cps
REM sleep
- beta waves
- 15-40 cps
sleep deprivation
fatigue & subsequent death, impaired concentration, emotional irritability, depressed immune system, greater vulnerability to illness
4 reasons why we need sleep
- sleep protected our ancestors from harm, that trait passed on to us
- sleep is beneficial to our brains
- sleep is good for memory
- sleep helps with growth (the pituitary gland fires while you sleep)
insomnia
persistent problems falling or staying asleep
somnambulism (sleepwalking)
the scientific name for sleepwalking
nightmares
frightening dreams that wake someone during REM sleep
night terrors
sudden arousal from sleep with intense fear accompanied by a physiological reaction (rapid heart rate, perspiration, etc) that happen is stage 4 sleep
narcolepsy
an overpowering urge to fall asleep that may occur while talking or standing up
sleep apnea
failure to breathe while asleep
5 reasons why we dream
- wish fulfillment: Freud’s theory. manifest content = actual dream; latent content = what the dream means. dreams show unconscious desires
REM rebound
when someone is deprived of REM sleep their future sleep will contain more REM than normal
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
Franz Anton Mesmer
- the popularity of hypnosis can most likely me credited to him
- believed to have found “animal magnetism” and whose patients went into a trancelike state and felt better upon waking up
posthypnotic suggestion
suggestion carried out after the subject is no longer hypnotized
posthypnotic amnesia
a supposed inability to recall what one experienced during hypnosis
facts & falsehoods of hypnosis
- to some extent everyone can be hypnotized as long as they have an open mind
- hypnosis is not believed to be successful at helping retrieve repressed memories
- will not cause someone to do something against their morals
- can be good for mental health, but so can any type of self-suggestion
- can help to eliminate pain, but so can a lot of techniques (ie. lamaze)
social influence theory
hypnotic subjects may simply be imaginative actors playing a social role (role playing - start to buy in)
divided consciousness theory
hypnosis is a separate state of consciousness
psychoactive drugs
chemical substances that alter perceptions and mood, and thus effect consciousness
withdrawal
undesirable (negative) effects after stopping a drug that one is addicted to
addiction
a craving for something that you know is bad/harmful
psychological dependence
physical dependence
mind craved the drug
tolerance
it takes more and more of the drug to get the same effect
depressant drug
drugs that reduce neural activity and slow body functions
alcohol
(depressant)
- affects motor skills, judgement, memory. increases aggressiveness while reducing self-awareness
barbiturates
(depressant)
- depress the activity of the central nervous system, reduces anxiety, impairs memory/judgement
opiates
(depressant)
- opium and its derivatives (morphine & heroin), depress neural activity
stimulant drugs
drugs that excite neural activity and speed up body functions
caffeine
increase heart and breathing rates and other autonomic functions to provide energy
nicotine
increase heart and breathing rates and other autonomic functions to provide energy
ecstasy (MDMA)
mild hallucinogen, high risk of dehydration
cocaine
altered form of cocaine offers a more immediate high, with a quicker crash
amphetamines
ex. adderall
methamphetamines
ex. crystal meth
hallucinogenic drugs
psychedelic (mind-manifesting) drugs that distort perceptions and evoke sensory images in the absence of sensory input
LSD
powerful hallucinogenic drug that is also known as acid
THC
major active ingredient in marijuana, mild hallucinations
monist
don’t believe in near death experiences, because they believe that the mind and body are the same thing
dualism
believe in near death experiences, because they believe the mind and body are separate
