1. Understanding Consciousness & Hypnosis
Module 22

2. Defining Consciousness
Consciousness – our awareness of ourselves and our environment
Preconscious – Information that we are not thinking about but can be brought into conscious thought.
Subconscious/unconscious – any processing outside of our awareness (parallel processing, priming) or thoughts/feelings that affect us outside of our awareness (Freudian)
Unconsciousness - loss of responsiveness to the environment
Nonconscious – processes completely devoted to body functioning (blood flow, secretion of hormones)
There are many altered states of consciousness

3. Hypnosis Hypnosis – Power in subject not hypnotist
Hypnotic ability/highly hypnotizable people
Does not enhance recall of forgotten events
Posthypnotic suggestion -
Harnesses subject’s own healing powers
Drug, alcohol, smoking addictions don’t respond well
Helpful in pain alleviation

4. Hypnosis Explaining hypnosis:
Divided-consciousness theory : split in awareness
Ernest Hilgard
Dissociation –
Hidden observer
Social Influence Theory : power of social influence
Subject takes on hypnotized role
Extension of normal social and cognitive processes