1. Altered States of Consciousness
CP PSYCHOLOGY
CHAPTER 7
Altered States of Consciousness
Section 7Q1
Mr. Freccia, NHS
Glencoe Publishers
Sleeping and Dreaming

2. Altered States of Consciousness (7Q1)
Meanings of Consciousness (Three views)
…as a Sensory Awareness
sensory awareness of our environment
…as a Direct Inner Awareness
mental pictures and “feelings” (like love, anger, etc.)
…as a Sense of Self
different viewpoints for different people

3. Levels of (Waking) Consciousness
Conscious Level
Perceptions and Thoughts
Preconscious Level
Memories and Stored Knowledge
Unconscious (or Subconscious) Level
Selfish needs, Immoral urges, Fears, Violent motives, Irrational wishes, Shameful experiences, unacceptable desires
Nonconscious Level
Biological functions (heart rate, growth, breathing)
Levels of (Waking) Consciousness

4. Levels of (Altered) Consciousness
Sleep and Dreams
Meditation
Biofeedback
Hypnosis
Drugs
Depressants
Stimulants
Hallucinogens

5. Altered States of Consciousness (7Q1)
Sleeping and Dreaming
Measuring sleep activity

6. Altered States of Consciousness (7Q1)
Sleeping and Dreaming
There are 4 stages of quiet sleep and 1 stage of active sleep
Approx. 75% of sleep time is spent in stages 1 thru 4
Approximately 25% of sleep time is spent dreaming
Electroencephalograph (EEG) and other devices are used to measure sleep activity

7. Altered States of Consciousness (7Q1)
Sleeping and Dreaming
Stage 1
Pulse slows
Breathing uneven
Muscles relax
Twitching
Eyes roll / visual images
Sensation of “drifting”
Lasts about 10 minutes

8. Altered States of Consciousness (7Q1)
Sleeping and Dreaming
Stage 2:
Slower brain waves
Eyes move slowly from
side-to-side
Lasts about 30 minutes

9. Altered States of Consciousness (7Q1)
Sleeping and Dreaming
Stage 3:
Deeper sleep
Large delta brain waves every few seconds
Varies in length

10. Altered States of Consciousness (7Q1)
Sleeping and Dreaming
Stage 4:
State of oblivion
Delta brain waves 50%
of the time
Varies in length
Sleepwalking
Bed wetting
Talking out loud

11. Altered States of Consciousness (7Q1)
Sleeping and Dreaming
REM Sleep
(Rapid Eye Movement): (dreaming) cycles in and out after stage 4
Irregular breathing/pulse
Adrenal and sex hormones increase
“Awake” brain waves
occur every 90 for 10

12. Altered States of Consciousness (7Q1)
Sleeping and Dreaming 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Sleep
stages
Awake
Hours of sleep
REM SLEEP

13. Altered States of Consciousness (7Q1)
Sleeping and Dreaming
Hours of sleep
Minutes of
Stage 4 and
REM 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 10 15 20 25
Decreasing
Stage 4
Increasing

14. Altered States of Consciousness (7Q1)
Sleeping and Dreaming
Sleep Disorders: Insomnia, Nightmares/Night Terrors, Sleep Walking, and Sleep Apnea
People need less sleep as they get older
Babies need hours of sleep daily
Teens hours, adults 8 hours,
Seniors citizens need 5-6

15. Altered States of Consciousness (7Q1)
Sleeping and Dreaming
Effects of Sleep Loss
fatigue
impaired concentration
depressed immune system
greater vulnerability to accidents

16. Altered States of Consciousness (7Q1)
Sleeping and Dreaming
Dreams get longer throughout the night with the last one the most likely to be remembered
Dreams have a purpose according to many psychologists but they disagree on what it is
Sigmund Freud: First to thoroughly study dreams believing they fulfilled hidden wishes
Manifest Content of dreams comes from the re-living of the day’s events in your dreams
Latent Content of dreams comes from repressed unconscious desires, often of a sexual nature

17. Altered States of Consciousness
CP PSYCHOLOGY
CHAPTER 7
Altered States of Consciousness
Section 7Q2
Hypnosis …Hallucinations …Meditation
Mr. Freccia, NHS
Glencoe Publishers

18. Altered States of Consciousness (7Q2)
Hypnosis: Characterized by a narrow focus of attention and heightened suggestibility
Hypnotic trance is not sleep, but rather a loss of interest in external distractions
Subject must be willing to cooperate, and will only do things they normally would do
Dissociation Theory Vs. Hidden Observer Theory

19. Altered States of Consciousness (7Q2)
Dissociation Theory of Hypnosis
State of subconscious control through focusing
Certain thoughts, emotions, sensations, and/or memories are separated “out” by your mind
Can also be reached thru traumatic accidents/events
Examples:
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)
Formerly Multiple Personality Disorder

20. Altered States of Consciousness (7Q2)
Hidden Observer Theory of Hypnosis
When under hypnotic control, awareness of the world around you isn’t “off” – just merely separate
Person may be “aware” of actions but not have any idea why the action is taking place or how
How those actions take place is through the “hidden observer”, who is like an autopilot for your mind

21. Altered States of Consciousness (7Q2)
Posthypnotic Suggestion: Hypnotist gets subjects to do things after trance has ended … normally for treatment of a psychological condition
Smoking cessation, anxiety relief, weight loss etc.
Non-hypnotized persons can also do this

22. Altered States of Consciousness (7Q2)
Hallucinations
:Perceptions that have no direct external cause and are not input from the senses
Causes include hypnosis, meditation, some drugs, addiction withdrawal, psychosis
Detect increase Dopamine levels in the brain
Hallucinations are very similar from one person to the next due to brain’s reaction

23. Altered States of Consciousness (7Q2)
Sensory Deprivation: Severely limiting sensory inputs to a person’s brain
People quickly become irritable, restless, upset and some begin to hallucinate
Biofeedback: Learning to voluntarily control autonomic nervous system processes with the help of feedback
Scientists used to believe heart rate, blood pressure, sweating etc. were involuntary

24. Altered States of Consciousness (7Q2)
Meditation: Focusing attention with the goal of clearing the mind to gain “inner peace” (self-hypnosis)
Mantra: Special word that is repeated over and over causing deep relaxation response
The Four Elements of Meditation; Quiet, Comfortable, a “Mental Device” (Mantra), & Passive Attitude

25. Altered States of Consciousness
CP PSYCHOLOGY
CHAPTER 7
Altered States of Consciousness
Section 7Q3
Psychoactive Drugs
Mr. Freccia, NHS
Glencoe Publishers

26. Psychoactive Drugs 7Q3
Psychoactive Drugs: Interact with the Central Nervous System to alter mood, perception, and behavior
Ranges from caffeine to marijuana, alcohol, amphetamines, LSD, Cocaine

27. Psychoactive Drugs 7Q3
Depressants: Induce sleep, relaxation, impaired judgment/coordination, anxiety relief
Types include Barbiturates, Quaaludes, Valium/Librium, Alcohol

28. Psychoactive Drugs 7Q3
Opiates: Induce sedation, pain relief, apathy, impaired intellect/coordination, nausea
Types include narcotics such as opium, heroin, morphine, codeine, Demerol

29. Psychoactive Drugs 7Q3
Stimulants: Induce alertness, elevated mood, wakefulness, appetite loss, high heart rate
Types include amphetamines, Dexedrine, Ritalin, Cocaine, Caffeine, Nicotine

30. Psychoactive Drugs 7Q3
Psychedelics: Induce distorted thoughts and perceptions, hallucinations anxiety, mood swings, violent behavior
Types include LSD, Mescaline, PCP, Psilocybin, Marijuana, Hashish

31. Psychoactive Drugs 7Q3
Antidepressants: Induce relief of depression, mood elevation, stimulation
Types include Lithium, Dibenzapines, MAO inhibitors

32. Psychoactive Drugs 7Q3
Inhalants: Cause Euphoria, Shortness of Breath, Nausea, Headache, Dizziness, fainting
Types include: Hydrocarbons, nitrous oxide, chlorohydrocarbons

33. Psychoactive Drugs 7Q3 Trends in Drug Use
All Psychoactive Drugs have Long-Term negative effects
Ex: addiction, withdrawal, paranoia, brain damage, DEATH!
The Short Term effects of psychoactive drugs last from hours depending on the drug used
Alcohol: Most used/abused mind altering substance in U.S.
Trends in Drug Use

34. Psychoactive Drugs 7Q3 Tolerance Withdrawal
Small
Large
Drug dose
Little
effect
Big
Drug
Response to
first exposure
After repeated
exposure, more
drug is needed
to produce
same effect
Tolerance
diminishing effect with regular use
Withdrawal
discomfort and distress that follow discontinued use

35. Psychoactive Drugs 7Q3 Drug Tolerance Potential Addiction Potential
(Leads to higher dosage) Psychological Physical
Depressants Yes High Yes
Opiates Yes High Yes
Stimulants Yes High Yes
Psychedelics Yes Low No
Antidepressants No Low No
Inhalants “Unknown” Moderate “Unknown”

36. Psychoactive Drugs 7Q3

37. Psychoactive Drugs 7Q3 Near-Death Experience
an altered state of consciousness reported after a close brush with death
often similar to drug-induced (LSD) hallucinations