Altered States of Consciousness AP Psychology

Hypnosis Trance-like state of heightened suggestibility, deep relaxation, and intense focus

Practical Applications of Hypnosis Reduce stress and anxiety Treat chronic pain Manage pain during medical and dental procedures To lose weight Stop smoking Perform in sports

Limitations of Hypnosis No one can be hypnotized against his or her will Cannot make people violate their moral values Cannot bestow new talents or make a person stronger

Explanations of Hypnosis Ernest Hilgard – Dissociation (divided consciousness) – Hypnotized subjects showed no sign of pain when they submerged their arms in an ice bath – When asked to lift their index finger if they felt pain, 70% did

Explanations of Hypnosis Dissociation (Divided Consciousness) cont. – Hypnosis a special state of divided consciousness – 1 – respond to hypnotists suggestion that cold water is not painful – 2 – processed a second dissociated stream that enabled them to sense the water’s temperature

Explanations of Hypnosis Social Influence Theory – No such thing as a hypnotic trance – People are enacting the socially constructed role of the hypnotic subject – Supports Hilgard’s findings by theorizing that his subjects ignored the cold because they were caught up in the role of being hypnotized

Psychoactive Drugs Def – chemicals that change conscious awareness, mood and/or perception Agonistic drugs – enhance neurotransmitters effect Antagonistic drugs – inhibit a neurotransmitter effect

Psychoactive Drugs Withdrawal – painful experience associated with stopping the use of addictive drugs Tolerance – bodily adjustment to higher and higher levels of a drug, which leads to decreased sensitivity

Withdrawal

Depressants Act on the brain and other parts of the CNS by decreasing bodily processes, reducing reaction times, and causing feeling of well being Alcohol, barbiturates and anti-anxiety drugs (Valium) are all depressants

Depressants cont. Alcohol is the most used and most abused depressant * always a depressant * Alcohol is strongly influenced by the user’s expectations David Myers – “When people believe that alcohol affects social behavior in certain, and believe, rightly or wrongly, that they have been drinking alcohol, they will behave accordingly.”

Stimulants Act on the brain and other parts of the CNS by producing alertness, excitement, elevated mood, and general responsiveness Caffeine, nicotine, amphetamine, cocaine

Stimulants cont. Each year, over 400,000 Americans dies from smoking-related illnesses / smoking plays a role in causing bronchitis, emphysema, and heart disease

Opiates Numb the senses and relieve pain Morphine, heroine, codeine Opiates are extremely addictive and withdrawal is excruciatingly painful

Hallucinogens Produce sensory or perceptual distortions called hallucinations Marijuana and LSD are the best-known hallucinogens