Stages of Consciousness 2

Why do we dream? Freud – wish fulfillment – psychic safety valve – Manifest content/latent content information processing – sort out the day’s events, consolidate our memories Physiological function – stimulation helps develop and preserve neural pathways Activation-synthesis – REM sleep triggers neural activity => brain weaves it into dreams Cognitive theory – reflects cognitive development – Slide show=> movie

Hypnosis Social interaction in which one person suggests to another that certain perceptions, feelings, thoughts or behaviors will spontaneously occur – Some people are more suggestible – Help people harness their own abilities – Dissociation – split in consciousness allowing some thoughts and behaviors to occur simultaneously with others – ex. Pain

Is Hypnosis an Altered Stage of Consciousness Social phenomenon – Power of social influence – Not unique to hypnosis Dissociated (divided) consciousness – Like reading a book and thinking of other things

Divided Consciousness or Social Phenomenon? Social Influence theory: the subject is so caught up in the hypnotized role that she ignores the odor Attention is diverted from an aversive odor. How? Divided-consciousness theory: hypnosis has caused a split in awareness

Drugs and Consciousness Changes in our perception – alters consciousness – Tolerance – Withdrawal – Physical dependence – Psychological dependence

Drugs and Consciousness Psychoactive Drug – a chemical substance that alters perceptions and alters mood Physical Dependence – physiological need for a drug – marked by unpleasant withdrawal symptoms Psychological Dependence – a psychological need to use a drug – for example, to relieve negative emotions

Dependence Tolerance – need for progressively larger doses to achieve same effect Withdrawal – discomfort and distress with discontinued use Small Large Drug dose Little effect Big effect Drug effect Response to first exposure After repeated exposure, more drug is needed to produce same effect

Psychoactive Drugs Depressants – drugs that reduce neural activity – slow body function alcohol, barbiturates, opiates Stimulants – drugs that excite neural activity – speed up body function caffeine, nicotine, amphetamines

Psychoactive Drugs Hallucinogens – psychedelic (mind-manifesting) drugs that distort perceptions and evoke sensory images in the absence of sensory input LSD

Psychoactive Drugs Barbiturates – drugs that depress the activity of the central nervous system, reducing anxiety but impairing memory and judgement

Psychoactive Drugs Opiates – opium and its derivatives (morphine and heroin) – opiates depress neural activity, temporarily lessening pain and anxiety

Psychoactive Drugs Amphetamines – drugs that stimulate neural activity, causing accelerated body functions and associated energy and mood changes

Cocaine Euphoria and Crash

Psychoactive Drugs LSD – lysergic acid diethylamide – a powerful hallucinogenic drug – also known as acid THC – the major active ingredient in marijuana – triggers a variety of effects, including mild hallucinations

Psychoactive Drugs Drug Type Pleasurable Effects Adverse Effects Alcohol Depressant Initial high followed by Depression, memory loss, organ relaxation and disinhibition damage, impaired reactions Heroin Depressant Rush of euphoria, relief from Depressed physiology, pain agonizing withdrawal Caffeine Stimulant Increased alertness and Anxiety, restlessness, and wakefulness insomnia in high doses; uncomfortable withdrawal Metham- Stimulant Euphoria, alertness, energy Irritability, insomnia, phetamine hypertension, seizures Cocaine Stimulant Rush of euphoria, confidence, Cardiovascular stress, energy suspiciousness, depressive crash Nicotine Stimulant Arousal and relaxation, sense Heart disease, cancer (from tars) of well-being Marijuana Mild Enhanced sensation, pain relief Lowered sex hormones, disrupted hallucinogen distortion of time, relaxation memory, lung damage from smoke