Psychology Chapter on Thought Suppression and Unconscious

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Questions and Answers

According to the content, what is the relationship between thought suppression and the rebound effect?

  • Thought suppression and the rebound effect are unrelated phenomena.
  • The rebound effect is a consequence of the difficulty of thought suppression. (correct)
  • The rebound effect is a technique for suppressing thoughts.
  • Thought suppression is a necessary precursor to the rebound effect.

What is the main point of the study conducted by Wegner et al. in 1987?

  • The subconscious mind plays a crucial role in controlling consciousness.
  • Thought suppression is an effective strategy for managing unwanted thoughts.
  • People are more likely to think about white bears when told not to. (correct)
  • The rebound effect can be mitigated by focusing on positive thoughts.

What is the 'ironic process of mental control' as described in the content?

  • The unconscious mind actively works against conscious efforts to control thoughts. (correct)
  • The process of mental control is ultimately counterproductive.
  • The effectiveness of mental control depends on the intensity of the thoughts to be suppressed.
  • Mental control is most effective when used in a deliberate and conscious manner.

How does the content relate to the idea of rationalizing disappointment?

<p>It highlights the difficulty of controlling thoughts and emotions, which may be relevant to handling disappointment. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT an example of the rebound effect?

<p>Thinking about a certain word increases the probability of remembering it later. (E)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary argument made by Freud regarding slips of speech?

<p>Slips of speech are a manifestation of the unconscious mind, revealing hidden desires or anxieties. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary difference between the psychodynamic and the cognitive unconscious?

<p>The psychodynamic unconscious actively seeks to repress unwanted thoughts and feelings, whereas the cognitive unconscious simply processes information outside conscious awareness. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the main criticism of the concept of subliminal perception?

<p>The influence of subliminal messages is too weak to have a significant impact on behavior. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary conclusion of the Strahan et al. 2002 study regarding subliminal persuasion?

<p>The effectiveness of subliminal persuasion is limited to specific contexts, particularly in cases where individuals are already experiencing a related need. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to Dijksterhuis, what is the primary reason why unconscious processing can often lead to better decisions than conscious deliberation?

<p>Consciousness can become overloaded with information, making it difficult to make rational decisions. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the key takeaway from the study by Wilson and Schooler (1991) regarding the role of consciousness in decision-making?

<p>Consciousness can hinder decisions by drawing attention to irrelevant details and undermining intuition. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a criticism of freud's concept of the unconscious?

<p>Freud's theories have been largely discredited by modern psychology. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of the cognitive unconscious, as contrasted with the psychodynamic unconscious?

<p>The cognitive unconscious processes information outside of conscious awareness, without necessarily assigning meaning to it. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a common misconception surrounding subliminal perception?

<p>Subliminal perception is a reliable and consistent method for influencing behavior. (E)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary implication of the research on unconscious thought processes for decision-making?

<p>Unconscious processing can lead to better decisions in some cases, especially when dealing with complex information. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a factor that influences how information is processed and prioritized according to the early selection models of attention?

<p>The extent to which information is evaluated before selection (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In the context of early selection models of attention, what is the 'information bottleneck'?

<p>A point where information processing capacity is limited due to excessive input (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary finding of Treisman and Geffen's (1967) study on dichotic listening?

<p>Participants showed little attention to the unattended ear, even when presented with meaningful information. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a critique of early selection models of attention?

<p>They don't account for the possibility that information might be processed differently depending on the task's difficulty. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following models of attention proposes that all information is processed, but only the most relevant information reaches consciousness?

<p>Attenuation model (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the 'perceptual load' in the Load Model of attention proposed by Lavie?

<p>It determines whether selection occurs early or late in the information processing stream. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the significant finding of Corteen and Dunn's (1974) study on the unconscious processing of conditioned words?

<p>Participants exhibited a conditioned fear response to conditioned words presented in the unattended ear, even though they couldn't consciously report them. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What key aspect of the response selection model, proposed by Deutsch and Deutsch (1963), differentiates it from early selection models?

<p>It claims that the information bottleneck occurs after information processing. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements best describes the contribution of Von Wright et al.'s (1975) study to our understanding of attention?

<p>It suggested that both early and late selection might be involved in attention. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to the content, what is the fundamental challenge in understanding how attention operates?

<p>Reconciling evidence for early and late selection processes. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a neurotransmitter involved in the brain’s chemical messaging system?

<p>Epinephrine (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the activation-synthesis theory of dreaming?

<p>Dreams are simply random neural activity interpreted by the brain. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does the content describe the relationship between the amygdala and dreaming?

<p>The amygdala is activated during REM sleep, contributing to the emotional content of dreams. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to the content, why is it difficult to determine if there are differences in brain activity between lucid dreaming and normal dreaming?

<p>Lucid dreaming is a rare phenomenon, making it difficult to study. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the main arguments against the activation-synthesis theory of dreaming?

<p>It does not provide a way to interpret the meaning of dreams. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the prefrontal cortex in dreaming?

<p>It is less active during REM sleep, contributing to the rambling nature of dreams. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements accurately describes the impact of psychoactive drugs on consciousness?

<p>Psychoactive drugs can alter the brain's chemical messaging system, leading to changes in consciousness. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the main finding of the study conducted by Bozarth and Wise in 1985?

<p>Cocaine is a highly addictive drug. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the effects of hallucinogens?

<p>Hallucinogens alter sensation and perspective, often causing hallucinations. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the main difference between the 'manifest content' and 'latent content' of a dream, according to the content?

<p>Manifest content is the dream's apparent meaning, while latent content is its underlying meaning. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of these is NOT listed in the content as a major point of controversy surrounding cannabis?

<p>It is a relatively safe drug, with few adverse side effects. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to the content, how does the content describe the nature of hypnosis?

<p>Hypnosis is a form of social interaction where suggestions can influence a person's subjective experiences. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the major point of argument by Kirsch et al. (2011) mentioned in the content regarding hypnosis?

<p>Hypnosis is primarily a social interaction where suggestions are readily accepted. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the main idea in the content regarding Franz Anton Mesmer and his 'animal magnetism' theory?

<p>Mesmer's theory of animal magnetism is widely considered to be a pseudoscientific belief. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the main idea of the content regarding the role of the frontal regions of the brain during dreaming?

<p>The frontal regions are deactivated during dreaming, allowing for more associative thinking. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'zombie' refer to in the context of the problem of other minds?

<p>A hypothetical being who can mimic conscious behavior but lacks genuine subjective experiences (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does the concept of 'free will' relate to the problem of rewarding good deeds and punishing evil acts?

<p>Free will is necessary to hold individuals accountable for their actions, but its existence is debated. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant challenge posed by the problem of other minds?

<p>The impossibility of directly experiencing another person's consciousness. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does the concept of 'qualia' relate to the problem of other minds?

<p>Qualia are the subjective experiences that define consciousness, making it challenging to know if another person experiences them the same way. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following views does Dennett express regarding 'zombies'?

<p>The concept of 'zombie' is flawed, as a non-conscious entity would be comparable to brain-dead. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the 'materialist' view of consciousness propose?

<p>Consciousness emerges from biological processes in the brain, solely through physical mechanisms. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is 'anthropomorphism' as described within the context of perceiving other minds?

<p>A tendency to attribute human qualities and experiences to non-human entities. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the research study conducted by Fray et al. (2007) on the perception of other minds?

<p>To explore how people attribute mental capabilities to different beings, revealing patterns in judgments. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a basic property of consciousness?

<p>Duration (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The "cocktail party phenomenon" demonstrates which property of consciousness?

<p>Selectivity (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In the study by Neisser and Becklen (1975), participants were asked to react to two games displayed on a television screen. What was the main finding of this study?

<p>Participants could easily follow one game at a time, but not both simultaneously. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The phenomenon of "change blindness" demonstrates that:

<p>Our attention is often limited, leading us to miss important changes. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements best describes the concept of "transience of consciousness"?

<p>Consciousness is a dynamic stream of thoughts and experiences that continuously changes. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between consciousness and working memory?

<p>Working memory is a small and limited capacity, which contributes to the transience of consciousness. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the main function of the experience sampling technique?

<p>Capture and analyze conscious experiences in real-time. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of "minimal consciousness" as defined by Armstrong (1980)?

<p>Responding to a loud noise by jumping back. (B), Intensely focusing on a complex mathematical equation. (A), Contemplating the meaning of life. (C), Engaging in a passionate debate with another person. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of "self-consciousness" as described by James (1980)?

<p>Feeling embarrassed after tripping on a sidewalk. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The study by Gallup (1970) involving chimpanzees and mirror images demonstrated that:

<p>Chimpanzees may be capable of self-recognition. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a common theme found in the contents of consciousness?

<p>Internal bodily sensations (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the main idea behind the computer program that simulates daydreams, as described in the text?

<p>To explore creative possibilities and help manage emotions. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of "thought suppression"?

<p>To avoid thinking about something we don't want to think about. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential consequence of chronic self-consciousness?

<p>Depression and negative mood. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The study involving mirrors and trick-or-treating children on Halloween (Beaman et al., 1979) concluded that:

<p>Mirrors can encourage more generous behavior in children. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does the 'stream of consciousness' relate to the concept of 'unity of consciousness'?

<p>The stream of consciousness contradicts the unity of consciousness, as we cannot focus on two things at once. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Free Will

The ability to make choices unconstrained by external factors.

Problem of Other Minds

Difficulty in perceiving the consciousness of others.

Qualia

Subjective experiences of mental states, inaccessible to others.

Zombie Hypothesis

A hypothetical unconscious being that acts like a conscious one.

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Materialism

Philosophical view that mental states are products of physical systems.

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Alteration of Consciousness

Changes in conscious experiences due to brain activity.

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Anthropomorphism

Attributing human characteristics to non-human entities.

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Comparative Mind Study

Study comparing mental capacities of different beings.

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Thought Suppression

The conscious effort to avoid thinking about certain topics or ideas.

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Rebound Effect

The increased frequency of a thought returning after suppression efforts fail.

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Ironic Process Theory

The phenomenon where attempts to suppress thoughts can inadvertently cause them to arise.

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Unconscious Monitoring

The ability of the mind to track thoughts outside of conscious awareness.

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Wegner's Studies

Research showing the challenges of mental control and thought suppression.

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Dynamic Unconscious

Freud's theory that hidden thoughts influence behavior, often unpredictably.

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Sharpshooter Fallacy

A logical fallacy where conclusions are drawn from random data.

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Cognitive Unconscious

Mental processes that are not consciously experienced but influence thoughts and behaviors.

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Subliminal Perception

Influence on thoughts or behaviors by stimuli not consciously perceived.

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James Vicary Experiment

Claimed subliminal messages increased sales but was later revealed as a hoax.

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Thirst-related Word Exposure

Words related to thirst can influence choices unconsciously.

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Dijksterhuis Decision Study

Immediate versus deliberated choices lead to different decision outcomes.

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Wilson and Schooler Study

Overthinking decisions can lead to less satisfaction compared to intuitive choices.

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Limitations of Subliminal Influence

Subliminal cues often have weak effects and depend on prior states like thirst.

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Unconscious Decision Making

Unconscious processes can often yield better decision outcomes than conscious thought.

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Intentionality

The quality of consciousness being directed towards an object.

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Unity of Consciousness

The resistance to division when attending to multiple stimuli.

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Change Blindness

Failure to notice significant changes in the visual field.

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Selectivity of Consciousness

The capacity to include some objects and exclude others in awareness.

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Cocktail Party Phenomenon

The ability to focus on a single conversation in a noisy environment.

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Transience of Consciousness

The tendency for thoughts and experiences to change constantly.

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Levels of Consciousness

Different degrees of awareness regarding the self and environment.

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Minimal Consciousness

A low level of awareness, just sensing and reacting without reflection.

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Fully Conscious

Being aware and able to report mental states and thoughts.

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Self-Consciousness

A level of attention where one is aware of themselves as an object.

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Experience Sampling Technique

Method where people report their conscious experiences during specific prompts.

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Daydreaming

A state of consciousness with a flow of seemingly purposeless thoughts.

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Dichotic Listening

A technique to test selective attention using different messages in each ear.

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Galvanic Skin Response

A measure of emotional response based on skin's electrical activity.

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Selective Attention

Process of focusing mental resources on limited events while ignoring others.

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Early Selection Model

Theory suggesting that only important information passes through an initial filter for processing.

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Information Bottleneck

A limitation in capacity for processing all incoming information simultaneously.

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Attenuation Model

Theory that unattended messages are weakened but still processed, not completely blocked.

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Dichotic Listening Task

An experiment method where different messages are played in each ear to study attention.

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Late Selection Model

Theory that all information is processed before prioritization occurs, leading to response selection.

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Conditioned Response

A learned reaction to a previously neutral stimulus associated with a significant event.

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GSR (Galvanic Skin Response)

A measure of physiological arousal reflecting emotional responses potentially tied to stimuli.

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Load Model

Nilli Lavie's theory that task difficulty determines if attention selection is early or late.

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Competition for Response

In tasks with multiple stimuli, attention must prioritize which to respond to first.

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Manifest Content

The superficial meaning of a dream, as reported.

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Latent Content

The hidden, true meaning behind a dream.

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Activation-Synthesis Model

Theory suggesting dreams result from random brain activity during sleep.

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REM Sleep

A sleep stage where dreams are most vivid and brain activity resembles waking state.

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Amygdala

Brain region responsible for fear and emotional responses, active during REM sleep.

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Lucid Dreaming

Awareness of dreaming while in a dream.

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Psychoactive Drugs

Chemicals that influence consciousness or behavior by altering brain chemistry.

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Addiction

Compulsive engagement in rewarding stimuli despite adverse consequences.

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Hallucinogens

Drugs that alter perception and often cause hallucinations.

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Cannabis

A plant used for its psychoactive effects, often causing relaxation and altered perception.

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Hypnosis

A state of focused attention and increased suggestibility, often facilitated by a hypnotist.

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Mesmerism

Early practice of hypnosis initiated by Franz Anton Mesmer, involving 'animal magnetism'.

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Hypnotic Induction

The process of leading someone into a hypnotic state.

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Frontal Regions During Sleep

Brain regions associated with planning that are less active during dreams.

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Neurotransmitters

Chemicals that transmit signals in the brain, affecting mood and behavior.

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Study Notes

Consciousness Literature & Research Methods

  • Narcolepsy: A rare, long-term brain disorder causing sudden sleep attacks at inappropriate times. It's linked to specific genes and has been associated with the Pandemrix H1N1 influenza vaccine.
  • Symptoms: Half of narcoleptic patients experience cataplexy (temporary muscle weakness triggered by strong emotions like laughter), sleep paralysis (inability to move while falling asleep or waking up), and hallucinations.
  • Consciousness: The subjective experience of the world and one's mind. It's essential to being human and unique. Researchers explore consciousness through direct experiences and studying altered states like intoxication and hypnosis.
  • Conscious and Unconscious: The philosopher Daniel Dennett suggests the idea of a "Cartesian theatre" where mental experiences are observed in the mind, but this view is considered impossible to measure or share. The difficulty in explaining consciousness is a major area studied by philosophers.
  • Mysteries of Consciousness: A complex concept focusing on the difficulty of explaining how subjective experience emerges. Chalmers (1996) proposes to understand the nature of experience in understanding the mind.

Homunculus Problem

  • Homunculus problem: The challenge of explaining consciousness by invoking another internal "mini-me" to explain experiences, leading to an infinite regress.

Problem of Other Minds

  • Problem of Other Minds: Difficulty in knowing if the experiences of other people are the same as your own.
  • Mental States/Qualia: The subjective aspects of personal experience, e.g., the feeling of seeing red, which cannot be directly accessed by others.

Mind-Body Problems

  • Mind-body problem: The relationship between the mind and body. Rene Descartes proposed the mind and body were separate substances.

Libet 1985

  • Procedure: Participants were asked to report movements when choosing to move. Brain activity was recorded.
  • Results: The brain's electrical activity was detected half a second before the reported voluntary action.

Johansson et al. 2005

  • Procedure: Men had to choose between two women, then chose the women they felt less attracted to, but were unaware of the switch before choosing. They had to justify their choices.
  • Results: Men were not aware they made a decision that was unrelated to their original choice.

The Nature of Consciousness

  • Intentionality: Consciousness is directed towards an object, although it's different from the intentional aspect of actions.
  • Unity: Consciousness resists division. One can attend to multiple things, but not usually efficiently when doing both at once.
  • Selectivity: Consciousness chooses which aspects to focus on. Studies like the "cocktail party effect" demonstrate that attention filters information.
  • Transience: Consciousness is constantly changing.

Level of Consciousness

  • Minimal consciousness: A basic awareness of the environment, without complex, self-reflective thought.
  • Fully conscious: Aware of your experiences in the world.

The Unconscious Mind

  • Freudian unconscious: Sigmund Freud's concept that the unconscious mind is a reservoir of hidden desires, thoughts, and memories that influence conscious experiences.
  • Cognitive unconscious: A system of mental processes that operate outside of our conscious awareness, like mental processes that are part of how a person thinks and acts.

Meditation

  • Meditation: The practice of focused attention and contemplation that can lead to heightened awareness and other benefits.
  • These practices involve certain techniques such as breathing exercises etc.

Sleep Needs and Deprivation

  • Sleep stages: Five distinct stages, with different brain wave patterns.
  • REM sleep: A stage of sleep characterized by rapid eye movements, dreaming, and heightened brain activity. It is important for memory consolidation.
  • Sleep needs: Vary by age. Sleep deprivation has negative consequences including reduced memory, mood changes, and impaired physical function.

Sleep Disorders

  • Insomnia: Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep.
  • Sleep apnea: Brief pauses in breathing during sleep.
  • Narcolepsy: Difficulty controlling sleep-wake cycles.
  • Somnambulism: Also known as sleepwalking and is a disorder in which individuals get up and move around while sleeping, often with little or no memory of the event.

Dreams

  • Dreams: Experiences during sleep, often involving vivid imagery and emotional content.
  • Dream theories: Different theories attempt to explain dreams, including Freud's psychoanalytic theory (connecting dreams to hidden desires) and the activation-synthesis theory (random brain activity interpreted by the mind).

Drugs and Consciousness

  • Psychoactive drugs: Substances that influence consciousness and behavior.
  • Neurotransmitters: Chemicals involved in transmitting information between nerve cells. Drugs can affect neurotransmitters.

Hypnosis

  • Hypnosis: A state of focused attention and heightened suggestibility.
  • Hypnotic induction: Techniques used to induce hypnosis. Not everyone is equally susceptible to or open to hypnosis.
  • Hypnotic effects: Changes in perceptions, memories, and behaviors.

Hallucinogens

  • Hallucinogens: Drugs that distort perception and can cause hallucinations.

Cognitive Unconscious

  • Cognitive unconscious: Mental processes that aren't consciously experienced but that influence thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

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