UNIT 5 – STATES OF CONSCIOUSNESS

22.1 – Describe the place of consciousness in psychology’s history. Conscious Awareness includes all of the mental process a person is aware of at any given moment. Not all mental activities occur in the conscious awareness. There are also other levels of awareness that could affect the conscious awareness.

22.1 – Describe the place of consciousness in psychology’s history. Levels of Consciousness 1) Conscious Level – includes all the mental process a person is aware of at any given moment. There are varying states of consciousness such as sleep, wake, altered states. These states of consciousness can occur spontaneously or are physiologically of psychologically induced. 2) Preconscious Level – resides just below the level of consciousness, which makes it easy to access. 3) Unconscious Level – is absent from conscious awareness, but still could influence a person’s thoughts and actions.

22.2 – Define hypnosis, and describe how a hypnotist can influence a hypnotized subject. Hypnosis: is an altered state of consciousness that could produce increased responsiveness to suggestion that could in turn lead to changes in behavior and thinking. Explaining Hypnosis – Hypnosis is based on the social interaction between a hypnotized person and the suggestions of a hypnotist. Hypnosis can affect the subject’s perception, memory, and behavior.

22.2 – Define hypnosis, and describe how a hypnotist can influence a hypnotized subject. Posthypnotic Suggestions: the statements made by a hypnotist. Suggestions that may be carried out after the person has been hypnotized. Posthypnotic Amnesia: meaning they cannot recall what took place during the hypnotic session Hypnosis gets mixed reviews, in that children tend to have a greater likelihood of being able to be hypnotized than adults. In many cases it boils down to the subject’s willingness and positive belief about being hypnotized.

22.2 – Define hypnosis, and describe how a hypnotist can influence a hypnotized subject. FAQ’s About Hypnosis 1) Those who practice hypnosis agree that its power resides in the subject’s openness to suggestion. 2) Can anyone experience hypnosis? Yes, to some extent. 3) Can hypnosis enhance recall of forgotten events? No 4) Can hypnosis force people to act against their will? No 5) Can hypnosis be therapeutic? Yes. Self-suggestion can heal too. 6) Can hypnosis alleviate pain? Yes. Lamaze can do that too. 7) Hypnosis seems especially helpful for treatment of obesity, but drug, alcohol, and smoking addictions have not responded well to hypnosis. 8) In controlled studies, hypnosis produced the same results as positive suggestions given without hypnosis.

22.3 – Discuss whether hypnosis is an extension of normal consciousness or an altered state. Explaining the Hypnotized State 1) Social Influence Theory: suggest that hypnosis is not an altered state of consciousness, but an expected role one should play under hypnosis. A hypnotized person is motivated to act a certain way that is associated with the demands and roles of what is expected of them during hypnosis. The person being hypnotized is conforming to the demands of the hypnotist and his own expectation of what should occur during hypnosis. 2) Divided Consciousness Theory: suggests that a person experiences distinct multiple streams of consciousness. The first stream of consciousness is tuned to the hypnotist’s suggestions, while the second (“Hidden Observer”) is so distinct from consciousness that it is unattainable to the subject.

22.3 – Discuss whether hypnosis is an extension of normal consciousness or an altered state.