Consciousness

ConsciousnessCh 5

ConstructCan not be seen, touched, or measured directly

Known by their effects on behavior and play roles in psychological theories

Ex: consciousness, intelligence, and emotion

What is consciousness?Awareness

Sensory awareness

Direct inner awareness

Sense of self

Sensory AwarenessThings outside yourself

Tend to be more conscious of some things than othersSudden changes (cool breeze)Unusual stimuli (dog entering classroom)Intense stimuli (bright colors, loud

noises, sharp pains)

Direct Inner AwarenessBeing aware of things inside yourself

Thoughts, images, emotions, memories

Aware of how you are feeling, remember a friend you had when you were younger, think about abstract concepts like fairness or love

Sense of SelfWe are aware of ourselves and our existence

People begin to understand that they are unique individuals as they get older

Levels of Consciousness

Conscious LevelWhat you are currently aware of/thinking about

Preconscious LevelNot in awareness right now but could recall them if you had to by directing your inner awareness (attention) to them

Unconscious LevelUnavailable to awareness under most circumstances

Nonconscious LevelBasic biological functions

Freud’s view of the unconscious level

Believed certain memories are painful and that some of our impulses (aggressiveness) are considered unacceptable

We use mental strategies (defense mechanisms) to push painful or unacceptable ideas out of our consciousness

Protect ourselves from feelings of anxiety, guilt, and shame

Altered States of Consciousness

Person’s sense of self or sense of the world changesSleepUnder the influence of drugsMeditationBiofeedbackHypnosis

Circadian RhythmsBiological clocks

In humans, include sequence of bodily changes, like temperature, blood pressure, and sleepiness/wakefulness, that occurs every 24 hours

Most studied: sleep/wake cycle

Stages of SleepStage 1: lightest, alpha to theta waves, brief dreamlike images (30-40 mins)

Stages 2, 3, and 4: sleep gets deeper

Stages 3 and 4: delta waves

Stage 4: deepest, most difficulty if waking from this stage (NREM is deeper than REM)

Move through 4, 3, 2, and then REM

REM SleepRapid Eye Movement

Breathe irregularly, blood pressure rises, heart beats faster, brains waves similar to stage 1 sleep, body is basically paralyzed

Whole cycle in about 90 mins

Typical 8 hr night, move through stages about 5 times

REM gets longer each time

Why do people sleep?Revive tired body and build up resistance to infection

Help recover from stress

What happens if we don’t get sleep?Become irritable, difficulty focusing

eyes, speech difficulties and memory lapses

Catching up takes a long time

Why do we need REM sleep?

When deprived of REM sleep, people experience REM-reboundHaving much more REM sleep when they do

finally sleepWhen sleep deprived, tend to learn slower

than usual, forget more rapidly

Some research suggests REM may help brain development in infants and “exercise” brain cells in adults

DreamsMost vivid dreams happen during REM

Can be in black and white or color

During REM tend to have plots and can be very realistic

During NREM sleep, plots are more vague and images more fleeting

Most are about everyday events

Freudian View of Dreams

Dreams reflect a person’s unconscious wishes and urges

Some are unacceptable/painful and these are the ones that show up most often in dreamsNot always obviousDream in symbols which can be interpreted

Sleep ProblemsInsomnia: inability to fall/stay asleep

Alcohol can causeSleeping pills probably not greatest

optionFairly common

Nightmares: bad dreams during REM

Night Terrors: may actually move during sleepDuring NREM sleep, most common in kidsEpisode of fear and panic

Sleepwalking: during deep stages of sleepTypically don’t remember what did/saidNo evidence that sleepwalkers become

violent/upset if awakened, but sit down 1st Most children outgrow it as they matureProbably also reflects immaturity of

nervous system

Sleep Apnea: breathing interruption during sleepWhen air passages are blockedSnoring and obesity associated with itBreathing mask worn to help

Narcolepsy: rare sleep problem in which people suddenly fall asleep no matter the time or where they areEpisodes can be dangerous

Believed to be a genetic disorder or REM sleep functioning

MeditationFocus on peaceful, repetitive stimulus

Become relaxedCan help people lower their blood pressureMake stresses of outside world fade away

BiofeedbackProvides information about something happening in the body

Used to learn to create brain waves produced when relaxing – alpha waves – as a way of coping with tension

Should only be used under direct supervision of a medical professional

HypnosisPeople respond to suggestions and behave as though they are in a trance, relaxed state

Used in variety of ways:Anesthetic/pain preventionReduce anxiety, manage pain, or overcome fears

Used with witnesses to crime (just as likely to make mistakes as others)

Quitting bad habits through posthypnotic suggestion

Drugs and Consciousness

Addiction: after a person takes a drug for a while, his/her body craves it just to feel normal

Have a number of effects on consciousness

DepressantsSlow activity of nervous system

Alcohol: relax, put to sleep, even lethalLong term effects as wellIntoxication = drunkennessLess able to focus on the consequences of behavior

Can bring feelings of elation, take away inhibitions

Can be excuse for behaviors otherwise unacceptable

Narcotics: addictive depressants that have been used to relieve pain and induce sleepEx: Morphine, heroinCan give intense feelings of pleasure, but coming off can put the user in deep depression

High doses impair judgment and memory, cause drowsiness and stupor

High doses can depress respiratory system to point of coma and even death

Experience withdrawal when trying to stop using them (tremors, chills, insomnia, vomiting, diarrhea…)

StimulantsIncrease activity of nervous system

Speed up heart rate, and breathing rate

Nicotine: spurs release of adrenalineMay make people feel more alert and

attentive but doesn’t improve ability to perform complex tasks

Reduces appetite and raises rate at which the body changes food to energy

AddictingSerious health risks: cancer, emphysema,

low birth weight, etc…Second-hand smoke can be hazardous as well

Amphetamines: especially known for helping people stay awake and for reducing appetite“speed” or “uppers”Can produce feelings of pleasure,

especially in high dosesHigh doses can cause restlessness,

insomnia, loss of appetite, and irritability

Can cause hallucinations (perception of an object/sound that seems real but is not)

Can cause delusions (false idea that seems real)

Cocaine: Produces feelings of pleasure, reduces

hunger, deadens pain, and boosts self-confidence

Raises blood pressure and decreases supply of oxygen to the heart while speeding up the heart rate (sometimes leads to death)

Originally a pain killerFreud used it to overcome depressionOverdoses can cause restlessness, insomnia,

trembling, headaches, nausea, convulsions, hallucinations, delusions

Crack cocaine is particularly harmful form

HallucinogensDrug that produces hallucinations

May causes relaxation or feelings of pleasure

Can also cause feelings of panic

Marijuana: produces feelings of relaxation and mild hallucinationsImpairs perception and coordination along with memory and learning

Can cause anxiety and confusionStrong intoxication can cause frightening experiences

LSD: sometimes called acidMuch stronger than marijuana and can produce more intense hallucinations which can be very bizarre

Often convinced that while under the influence they have achieved great insights but once drug wears off, cannot recall

Effects are not predictableSome so frightening that users injure themselves seriously or even commit suicide because in a panic

Some lasting effects (memory loss, violent outbursts, nightmares, feelings of panic)

Even flashbacks

Treatment for Drug Abuse

Detoxification: removal of harmful substance from the body (most common with alcohol and narcotics)

Maintenance Programs: given controlled and less dangerous amounts of the drug or some less addictive substitute (narcotics)

Counseling: individually or group

Support Groups: in setting to provide emotional and moral support (ex: AA, NA)