Transcript Consciousness

Consciousness
Chapter 5
The Study of Consciousness
Section 1
Consciousness as a Construct
Construct—concept used to talk about something we
cannot see, touch, or measure directly.
Consciousness means:
--awareness
--sensory awareness
(smell my candle)
--direct inner awareness
(images or memories)
--sense of self
(we are aware of ourselves and our existence)
Levels of Consciousness
Preconscious Level
--not in your awareness right now, but you could
come up with them if you had to.
Unconscious Level
--Information is hidden
--Sometimes it is suppressed because
it is too painful
The Nonconscious Level
--Basic biologic functions
(examples include breathing, nails growing, etc)
Altered States of Consciousness
Consciousness refers to the waking state
Altered states include:
--sleep
--influence of drugs
--hypnosis
Sleeps & Dreems
Section 2
History of Dreams
A dream is defined in Webster's Dictionary as a
"sequence of sensations, images, thoughts, etc.,
passing through a sleeping person's mind".
In the Greek and Roman eras, dreams were
seen in a religious context. They were
believed to be direct messages from the
gods or from the dead.
In Egypt, people who had the power to interpret dreams
were looked up to and seen as divinely gifted.
The Chinese believed that the soul leaves the body to go
into this world. However, if they should be suddenly
awakened, their soul may fail to return to the body.
History of Dreams continued
During the Middle Ages, dreams were
seen as evil and its images were
temptations from the devil.
In the early 19th century, dreams were dismissed as
stemming from anxiety, a household noise or even
indigestion. Hence there was really no meaning to it.
Later on in the 19th century, Sigmund Freud revived the
importance of dreams and its significance and need
for interpretation. He revolutionized the study of
dreams
The Sleep Cycle
One sleep cycle comprises of four stages and lasts for
about 90-120 minutes
Dreams can occur in any of the four stages of sleep, but
the most vivid and memorable dreams occur in
the last stage of sleep (also commonly referred to as
REM sleep).
The sleep cycle repeats itself about an average of four
to five times per night, but may repeat as many as
seven times.
Stage 1
You are entering into light sleep.
This stage is characterized by Non-rapid eye
movements (NREM)
muscle relaxation
lowered body temperature
slowed heart rate
The body is preparing to enter into deep sleep.
Stage 2
Also characterized by NREM
Characterized by a further drop in body temperature
and relaxation of the muscles.
The body's immune system goes to work on repairing
the day's damage.
In this stage, you are completely asleep.
Stage 3
Still in the NREM stage, this is an even deeper sleep.
Your metabolic levels are extremely slow.
Stage 4
Eyes move back and forth
Blood pressure goes up
REM or delta sleep
Respiration becomes erratic
Heart rate speeds up
Muscles becomes paralyzed
Mind is as active as if you were awake
Majority of dreaming occurs in this state
Most likely to remember your dreams
Why do we sleep?
Revive the tired body and build up
resistance to infection
Help recover from stress
The Freudian View
believed that people dream symbols. These symbols
help people deal with painful things they cannot deal
with consciously.
The Biophysiological Approach
suggests that people dream about events that took
place during the day by neurons firing in the brain.
Sleep Problems
Insomnia
inability to sleep
racing minds
Nightmares and Night terrors
Snakes and murderers are most common
Night terrors occur during stage 3 and more
often in children
Sleepwalking
may reflect immaturity of the nervous system
Sleep Apnea—interruptions in breathing
Narcolepsy—suddenly fall asleep no matter what time it is
Meditation, Biofeedback, &
Hypnosis
Section 3
Meditation
Meditation—method some people use to narrow their
consciousness to reduce the stress of the outside
world.
All methods focus on a repetitive, peaceful
stimulus.
For example: repeating a mantra
Meditation is more important in some
religions than others. Buddhists meditate often and
claim that it helps them achieve “oneness with the
universe”
Biofeedback
Definition—a system that provides information about
something happening in the body.
Through training, people have learned to control their
bodily functions such as heart rate, headaches, blood
pressure, etc.
Hypnosis
Definition—an altered state of consciousness in which a
person will respond to suggestions and behave as if
they are in a trance.
--reduce anxiety
--overcome fears
--stop smoking
--stop overeating
--jog memories
May not remember they were hypnotized
Drugs & Consciousness
Section 4
Addiction
Definition—After a person takes the drug for awhile, his
or her body raves it just to feel normal.
Effects
--distort perceptions
--change moods
--cause hallucinations
5 categories of Drugs
Depressants
Narcotics
Stimulants
Inhalants
Halluncinogens
Depressants
Drugs that slow the activity of the nervous system
Alcohol
--large amounts can put a person to sleep
--intoxication
--slurred speech, blurred vision,
clumsy, unable to concentrate,
lose inhibitions, and gain feelings
of elation
--addiction
Narcotics
Addictive depressants that have been used to relieve
pain and induce sleep
--morphine, heroine, codeine
--impairs judgment and memory
--causes drowsiness and depresses the respiratory
system
--can lead to coma or death
Stimulants
Drugs that increase the activity of the nervous system
--Nicotine
--spurs adrenaline, reduces appetite
--Smoking leads to more deaths than automobile
accidents!!
--Amphetamines
--”uppers”, causes hallucinations and delusions
--prolonged highs cause crashing when stopping
--Cocaine
--feelings of pleasure, deadens pain, reduces hunger and boosts
self-confidence
--can cause death by decreasing oxygen to the blood which
would cause a heart attack.
__
Inhalants
A diverse group of volatile substances whose chemical
vapors can be inhaled to produce mind-altering
effects.
--The effects of inhalants are similar
to those of alcohol, including slurred
speech, lack of coordination, euphoria,
and dizziness.
--More serious consequences can include permanent
damage to the brain and other organs or even death.
--Death can even occur the first time a person tries it.
Hallucinogens
Any drug that produces hallucinations
Marijuana—impairs perception and coordination.
Alcohol and marijuana together can cause a
frightening sense of loss of self.
LSD (acid)—much stronger than marijuana and the
hallucinations are so strong that they can have
lasting side effects.