Consciousness Ch 5

Construct Can 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 Awareness Things outside yourself Tend to be more conscious of some things than others Sudden changes (cool breeze) Unusual stimuli (dog entering classroom) Intense stimuli (bright colors, loud noises, sharp pains)

Direct Inner Awareness Being 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 Self We are aware of ourselves and our existence People begin to understand that they are unique individuals as they get older

Levels of Consciousness Conscious Level What you are currently aware of/thinking about Preconscious Level Not in awareness right now but could recall them if you had to by directing your inner awareness (attention) to them Unconscious Level Unavailable to awareness under most circumstances Nonconscious Level Basic 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 changes Sleep Under the influence of drugs Meditation Biofeedback Hypnosis

Circadian Rhythms Biological 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 Sleep Stage 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 Sleep Rapid 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- rebound Having much more REM sleep when they do finally sleep When 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

Dreams Most 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 dreams Not always obvious Dream in symbols which can be interpreted

Sleep Problems Insomnia: inability to fall/stay asleep Alcohol can cause Sleeping pills probably not greatest option Fairly common Nightmares: bad dreams during REM Night Terrors: may actually move during sleep During NREM sleep, most common in kids Episode of fear and panic

Sleepwalking: during deep stages of sleep Typically don’t remember what did/said No evidence that sleepwalkers become violent/upset if awakened, but sit down 1 st Most children outgrow it as they mature Probably also reflects immaturity of nervous system Sleep Apnea: breathing interruption during sleep When air passages are blocked Snoring and obesity associated with it Breathing mask worn to help

Narcolepsy: rare sleep problem in which people suddenly fall asleep no matter the time or where they are Episodes can be dangerous Believed to be a genetic disorder or REM sleep functioning

Meditation Focus on peaceful, repetitive stimulus Become relaxed Can help people lower their blood pressure Make stresses of outside world fade away

Biofeedback Provides 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

Hypnosis People respond to suggestions and behave as though they are in a trance, relaxed state Used in variety of ways: Anesthetic/pain prevention Reduce 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

Depressants Slow activity of nervous system Alcohol: relax, put to sleep, even lethal Long term effects as well Intoxication = drunkenness Less 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 sleep Ex: Morphine, heroin Can 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…)

Stimulants Increase activity of nervous system Speed up heart rate, and breathing rate Nicotine: spurs release of adrenaline May 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 Addicting Serious 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 doses High 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 killer Freud used it to overcome depression Overdoses can cause restlessness, insomnia, trembling, headaches, nausea, convulsions, hallucinations, delusions Crack cocaine is particularly harmful form

Hallucinogens Drug that produces hallucinations May causes relaxation or feelings of pleasure Can also cause feelings of panic Marijuana: produces feelings of relaxation and mild hallucinations Impairs perception and coordination along with memory and learning Can cause anxiety and confusion Strong intoxication can cause frightening experiences

LSD: sometimes called acid Much 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 predictable Some 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)