CONSCIOUSNESS

CONSCIOUSNES S
A state of awareness of the

outside world, of our own thoughts and feelings. The sum total of all the external stimuli and internal mental events of which we are aware at any given time The state of awareness

Three Varieties of Normal Waking Consciousness

Directed Consciousness the state of

awareness you are in when you pay close attention to a situation/stimulus Flowing Consciousness awareness drift from one thought to another, from reading to daydreaming or vice versa
Daydreaming the period of focused, directed

thinking and feeling about fantasies - part of our growth and self-

Advantages and Uses of Daydreams

1.

Daydreams help make our life more creative and original.

2.

Use the past to explore the

future.

3.

Help develop your personality.

Divided Consciousness the splitting of two conscious activities that occur simultaneously, like performing two activities at the same time Example: walking while thinking about our problems

Subconscious Mental Activity

mental or behavioral activities

that take place outside of conscious awareness preconscious and unconscious processes

Preconscious Processes
Many of our everyday behaviors and mental

activities are carried out on a preconscious level. Example: - A driver can sing or daydream while driving if he has several years of conscious practice with the details of shifting, steering breaking and accelerating. However, unfamiliar sound from the cars engine will bring the driver back into full consciousness of the task at hand.

Unconscious Processes
the repository of primitive images,

feelings, and irrational thoughts exert a profound influence on our conscious mental activity and behavior (Sigmund Freud) Example: - continuous secretion and circulation of hormones throughout the bloodstream

SLEEPING and DREAMING

We spend almost one third of our lives

averaging about five to seven hours in each 24-hour period sleeping. We sleep to restore and revitalize our bodies and minds for the next waking day. Sleep not a single continuous state, its a complex combination of states EEG electroencephalogram - a machine that measures electrical brain activity

electroencephalogram

Major Stages of Sleep

NREM Non-Rapid Eye Movement

- contains four stages ranging from light to deep sleep REM Rapid Eye Movement - sleep which occurs periodically through the night

NREM
Stage 1: the lightest level of sleep,

occurs just as we drift to sleep. - twilight state/hypnagogic state-: neither daydreaming nor dreaming - myoclonia an abrupt movement that sometimes occurs during hypnagogic state

NREM
Stage 2: a deeper level of sleep is

identified by the appearance of very rapid waves from time to time

Stage 3: marks a transition from

relatively high to very deep sleep. The EEG begins to show periods of low frequency, high voltage waves known as delta waves.

NREM
Stage 4: the deepest level of sleep. The

delta waves appear almost constantly in the EEG

CHARACTERISTICS OF DREAMS

Dreams are made up of succession of

usually vivid and colorful visual images often accompanied by emotions dreams are products of our imaginatio

DREAM THEORIES
Dreams as wish fulfillment (Sigmund

Freud) Two levels: 1. manifest content events that happen in a dream 2. Latent Content the unconscious wishes or drives expressed in the manifest content that is found in the symbols

Dreams must be interpreted to be understood

DREAM THEORIES
Dreams as brain activity (J.A.

Hobson and R. McCarley) activition synthesis hypothesis Regards dreams as mere byproducts of periodic brain activation rather than a result of unconscious wishes

SLEEP DISORDERS
INSOMNIA the long-term inability

to obtain adequate sleep due to lengthy time to sleep onset, frequent wakening during the night, and/ or very early morning wakening SLEEP WALKING occurs primarily during the deepest parts of non-REM sleep

SLEEP DISORDERS
SLEEPTALKING saying words,

sometimes making fairly coherent statements for a brief period of time while sleeping NARCOLEPSY characterized by sudden irresistible attacks of sleep during normal waking hours

SLEEP DISORDERS
SLEEP APNEA a repeated

interruption of sleep due to cessation of breathing or by obstruction of air flow in the throat while attempting to breathe NIGHTMARES occur during REM sleep - the content of these dreams is exceptionally frightening, saddening, provoking or in some other way uncomfortable,

ALTERED STATES OF CONSCIOUSNESS

MEDITATON A practice that trains attention

in under

order to bring mental process greater voluntary - cultivates specific mental activities such as awareness and concentration - it stabilizes attention, transforms emotion and motivation, cultivates awareness, and heightens sensitivity to unethical behaviors

ALTERED STATES OF CONSCIOUSNESS

HYPNOSIS a psychological state, induced

by ritualistic procedure, in which the subject experiences changes in perception, memory and behavior in response to suggestions by the hypnotist - an altered state of consciousness in which the individual is highly relaxed

ALTERED STATES OF CONSCIOUSNESS

PSYCHOACTIVE DRUGS drugs that alter

conscious experience; have powerful effects and can be addictive

STIMULANTS NARCOTIC DEPRESSANTS S HALLUCINOGEN S

CAFFEINE
NICOTINE AMPHETAMINE S COCAINE

HEROIN

SEDATIVES
TRANQUILIZER S

LSD

PSYCHOACTIVE DRUGS
STIMULANTS (uppers) drugs that increase the

activity of the central nervous system, providing a sense of energy and well being AMPHETAMINES (Dexedrine, Benzedrine and Methedrine) - generally produce a conscious sense of increased energy, alertness, enthusiasm and a euphoric high COCAINE most commonly inhaled as a powder or smoked in the dangerously powerful form known as crack or shabu

PSYCHOACTIVE DRUGS
NARCOTICS - powerful and highly addictive

depressants - generally relieve pain and induce a sudden, rushing high, followed by a relaxed lethargic drowsiness DEPRESSANTS a large class of psychoactive drugs that influence conscious experience by depressing parts of the central nervous system ALCOHOL - the most widely abused drug to which most individuals are physiologically addicted

PSYCHOACTIVE DRUGS
SEDATIVES (downers) - depressants that in mild

doses generally produce a state of calm relaxation TRANQUILIZERS produce a sense of calm relaxation for a brief period of time HALLUCINOGENS (psychedelics)- typically alter perceptual experiences, but only large doses cause vivid hallucination