Psychology: Consciousness and Sleep

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Questions and Answers

What does Freud compare the human mind to in his theory of unconscious thought?

A machine

An iceberg (correct)

A river

A clock

Which of the following is NOT a reason provided for why we sleep?

To assist physical growth and brain development

To conserve energy at night

To prepare the mind for social interactions (correct)

To restore energy and replenish the brain

Which type of sleep occurs directly after deep sleep and is characterized by the stopping of neurotransmitter release?

Non-REM sleep

Stage 2 sleep

Light sleep

REM sleep (correct)

What are circadian rhythms primarily associated with?

24-hour biological cycles Signup and view all the answers

What role does deep sleep play in children specifically?

Promotes the release of growth hormone Signup and view all the answers

What is one characteristic of higher levels of consciousness?

Focuses on specific goals Signup and view all the answers

Which example best represents a lower level of consciousness?

Driving a familiar route Signup and view all the answers

Daydreaming is characterized as being between which two states of consciousness?

Active consciousness and dreaming Signup and view all the answers

What can an altered state of consciousness be caused by?

Hypnosis or trauma Signup and view all the answers

Which scenario exemplifies subconscious awareness?

You suddenly recall an answer during class discussions Signup and view all the answers

What defines lucid dreaming?

Ability to control the dream's content Signup and view all the answers

In which state do parts of the brain monitor external events even while asleep?

Normal sleep state Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is true about automatic processes?

They are a characteristic of lower levels of consciousness. Signup and view all the answers

What is hypnosis primarily used for?

Controlling pain during medical procedures Signup and view all the answers

What commonly occurs when individuals experience habituation?

Decreased response to a repeated stimulus Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements is true regarding meditation?

It brings about an altered state of consciousness. Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential result of long-term meditation practice?

Improvement in cognitive function as biological changes occur Signup and view all the answers

Which factor contributes to psychological dependence on drugs?

A strong desire to repeat drug use for emotional reasons Signup and view all the answers

How is learning primarily defined?

A change in behavior brought by experience Signup and view all the answers

What is a key characteristic of hypnosis as a state of consciousness?

It lies on a continuum between different states. Signup and view all the answers

What is a common misconception about childhood memories and hypnosis?

Adults can reliably recover forgotten experiences from childhood. Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'manifest content' refer to in the wish fulfilment theory of dreams?

The narrative or surface details of the dream Signup and view all the answers

Which theory suggests that dreaming is a means for the brain to synthesize neural activity?

Activation-synthesis theory Signup and view all the answers

In hypnosis, what happens to a person's will?

They remain conscious of their actions Signup and view all the answers

What is a common trait of individuals who are easily hypnotized?

They are absorbed in books or music easily Signup and view all the answers

According to the dream-for-survival theory, dreaming serves what primary function?

Evolutionary advantages Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the divided consciousness view of hypnosis?

There are two co-existing states of awareness during hypnosis Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of the initial steps in a hypnosis session?

To establish trust and comfort Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about hypnosis is incorrect?

People can be hypnotized against their will Signup and view all the answers

What is a Neutral Stimulus (NS) in classical conditioning?

A stimulus that does not naturally evoke a response before conditioning. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes an Unconditioned Response (UCR)?

A response that is naturally occurring without any training. Signup and view all the answers

What effect does extinction have on a conditioned response?

It decreases the frequency and can eventually eliminate the response. Signup and view all the answers

What does stimulus generalization refer to in classical conditioning?

Responding similarly to a variety of stimuli that resemble the conditioned stimulus. Signup and view all the answers

Which scenario best illustrates stimulus discrimination?

A dog salivating at the sound of a bell but not at a buzzer. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary role of the Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS) in classical conditioning?

To naturally produce an unconditioned response without prior learning. Signup and view all the answers

How does counter conditioning differ from classical conditioning?

It reverses previously established associations. Signup and view all the answers

What is the optimal timing for presenting a conditioned stimulus (CS) before an unconditioned stimulus (UCS)?

Between a half second and several seconds before the UCS. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Consciousness

Consciousness is the awareness of external events and internal sensations, including the self and thoughts about experiences.
It changes from moment to moment, known as the stream of consciousness.
Levels of awareness include:
- Higher level of consciousness: controlled processes that require focused attention, like writing or reviewing for an exam.
- Lower level of consciousness: automatic processes requiring minimal attention, like tying shoelaces.
- Altered states of consciousness: mental states noticeably different from normal awareness, caused by factors like drugs, trauma, or sensory deprivation.
- Subconscious awareness: where ideas incubate, like during class discussions or the tip of the tongue phenomenon.
- No awareness: unconscious thought, according to Freud, is a reservoir of hidden desires and thoughts beyond conscious access.

Sleep

Sleep is an altered state of unconsciousness.
Reasons for sleep include:
- Evolutionary perspective: conserving energy at night.
- Restoring energy: replenishing the brain and body, especially during REM sleep when neurotransmitters are not released.
- Physical growth and brain development: release of growth hormones during deep sleep.

Biological Rhythms

Periodic physiological fluctuations in the body controlled by biological clocks.
Examples include:
- Annual or seasonal cycles: migration, hibernation, eating habits.
- 24-hour cycles: circadian rhythms that regulate daily behavior and physiological changes, like sleep apnea.

Dreams

Theories of dreaming:
- Wish fulfillment: manifest content (surface meaning) and latent content (hidden meaning).
- Cognitive: uses the same mental processes as when we're awake to solve problems and think creatively.
- Activation-synthesis: the brain synthesizes neural signals from lower brain activity to make sense of what's happening during sleep.
- Dream-for-survival: dreams have an evolutionary origin.

Hypnosis

A trance-like state of heightened suggestibility.
Steps involve:
- Creating a quiet environment.
- Explaining the process to the participant.
- Focusing the participant on a specific object or image.
- Giving suggestions once the participant is relaxed.
People undergoing hypnosis do not lose control completely.
Hypnosis susceptibility varies greatly, with approximately 5% completely resistant and 15% highly susceptible.
Theories about hypnosis:
- Divided consciousness: a split state with one part following the hypnotist's suggestions and another part acting as a "hidden observer."
- Not a significantly different state of consciousness: brain waves haven't shown a substantial difference, and no other physiological changes are observed.
Values of hypnosis:
- Controlling pain.
- Reducing smoking.
- Treating psychological disorders.
- Assisting law enforcement.
- Improving athletic performance.

Meditation

A learned technique for refocusing attention that induces an altered state of consciousness.
Practices include:
- Repeating a mantra (sound, word, or syllable).
- Focusing on a picture, flame, or bodily sensation.
The key is to become unaware of outside stimulation and achieve a different state of awareness.
Benefits:
- Gaining new insights.
- Improving health through reduced oxygen usage, heart rate, and blood pressure and altered brain wave patterns.

Learning

A relatively permanent change in behavior brought about by experience.
Maturation is a biological process that unfolds naturally.
Changes in behavior can result from maturation or practice and experience.

Habituation

A decrease in response to a stimulus after repeated exposure.
Allows us to ignore things that no longer provide new information.
Most learning is more complex than habituation.

Classical Conditioning (CC)

Learning where a neutral stimulus (NS) comes to elicit a response after being paired with a stimulus that naturally elicits that response.
Key concepts in CC:
- Neutral Stimulus (NS): A stimulus that doesn't naturally elicit the desired response before conditioning.
- Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS): A stimulus that naturally evokes a response without training.
- Unconditioned Response (UCR): A natural, innate response to the UCS.
- Conditioned Response (CR): A response that, after conditioning, follows the previously neutral stimulus.
The timing and sequence of UCS and NS presentations are crucial for effective conditioning.
Applications of CC:
- Emotional responses, like fear of spiders or phobias.
- Food associations with specific brands, like McDonalds or Jollibee.
- Avoidance behavior, like avoiding dentists due to past pain experiences.
- Post traumatic stress disorder.
- Pleasant experiences, like associating the smell of a perfume with happy thoughts.

Desensitization/Counter Conditioning

A process that reverses the associations established through classical conditioning.
Involves gradually exposing individuals to fear-provoking stimuli without the negative consequences, allowing them to unlearn their fear responses.

Extinction

Occurs when a previously conditioned response decreases in frequency and eventually disappears.
It results from the absence of the pairing between the conditioned stimulus and unconditioned stimulus.
Spontaneous recovery can occur when the extinguished response reappears after a period of time.

Stimulus Generalization

After a stimulus is conditioned to produce a response, similar stimuli are likely to evoke the same response.
The greater the similarity between stimuli, the more likely generalization will occur.

Stimulus Discrimination

The ability to distinguish between different stimuli, where only one stimulus elicits a conditioned response.
This happens when two stimuli are sufficiently distinct from each other.

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Description

Explore the complexities of consciousness, including levels of awareness and altered states. Delve into the significance of sleep as an altered state of unconsciousness and its various functions. Test your knowledge on how these concepts interact and affect mental processes.