Introduction to Psychology - States of Consciousness

States of Consciousness

• Consciousness is defined as our subjective awareness of ourselves and our environment (Koch, 2004).
• Dualism is the idea that the mind, a nonmaterial entity, is separate from the physical body but connected to it, as proposed by Rene Descartes.

Levels of Awareness

• Low awareness examples include:
  • "The cocktail party" effect
  • Implicit Associations Test (IAT)
  • Priming
• High awareness examples include:
  • Effortful attention
  • Careful decision making
  • Mindfulness

Other States of Consciousness

• Hypnosis is an actual phenomenon characterized by reduced peripheral awareness and increased focus on a singular stimulus, often credited to Franz Mesmer.
• Dissociation is the separation of awareness from everything besides what one is centrally focused on, involving being less effortful and less self-conscious about one's thoughts and behaviors.
• Sleep is a unique state of consciousness characterized by reduced awareness but active brain function, influenced by circadian rhythm and changes in brain activity across different stages.

Dreams

• Dreams are nonconscious attempts to make sense of daily experiences.
• Freudian theory suggests dreams represent taboo or troublesome wishes or desires.

Psychoactive Drugs

• Hallucinogens are substances that alter perceptions, often creating visions or hallucinations that are not real.
• Depressants are substances that slow down the body's physiology and mental processes.
• Stimulants are substances that speed up the body's physiological and mental processes.

Selective Attention

• Selective attention is the ability to choose certain stimuli in the environment for processing while ignoring distracting information.
• Models of selective attention include:
  • Broadbent's Model: Selection based on physical features
  • Treisman's Attenuation Model: Late selection model where all information in the unattended ear is processed based on meaning
  • Multimode Model: Selection stage can change depending on the task
• Johnston and Heinz's findings suggest that under certain conditions, early selection is possible, and unattended content is minimally processed.

Sleeping and Dreaming

• Sleep is influenced by ambient light.
• Sleep disorders include:
  • Insomnia: Persistent difficulty falling or staying asleep
  • Sleep Apnea: Characterized by pauses in breathing that last at least 10 seconds during sleep
  • Narcolepsy: Extreme daytime sleepiness with frequent episodes of nodding off
  • Sleep Terrors: Disruptive sleep disorder, often experienced in childhood, involving sudden episodes of intense fear or terror during sleep
  • Bruxism: Teeth grinding during sleep
  • Periodic Limb Movement Disorder: Involves sudden involuntary movement of limbs during sleep
• Age sleep needs vary from newborns to adults.
• Lack of sleep impacts health and longevity, and is essential for healing and reducing anxiety.

Altering Consciousness with Psychoactive Drugs

• Psychoactive drugs alter states of consciousness, impacting perceptions and moods.
• Common sources of psychoactive drugs include:
  • Everyday items like chocolate, coffee, soft drinks, and alcohol
  • Medication (e.g., sleeping pills, tranquilizers)
  • Recreational use
• The primary classes of psychoactive drugs are:
  • Stimulants
  • Depressants
  • Opioids
  • Hallucinogens
• Psychoactive drugs influence neurotransmitters, which can impact mood, perception, and behavior.