Psychology Module 8: Hypnosis and Drugs

Module 8: Hypnosis and Drugs

• Hypnosis is a procedure where a researcher, clinician, or hypnotist suggests changes in sensation, perceptions, thoughts, feelings, or behaviors.
• 20% of adults have low susceptibility to hypnosis, meaning they are not easily hypnotized.
• 65 to 70% have medium susceptibility, and 10 to 15% have high susceptibility to hypnosis.
• Hypnotic susceptibility is not correlated with personality traits, intelligence, or willpower.
• Those with high scores on the Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale are typically more easily hypnotized.
• Hypnotic induction refers to the process of inducing hypnosis, usually by asking the person to stare at an object or close their eyes and then suggesting relaxation.

Theories of Hypnosis

• Altered states theory suggests that hypnosis creates an altered state of consciousness, disconnecting the person from reality.
• The sociocognitive theory suggests that behaviors observed during hypnosis are not due to the hypnotic state, but rather the person's ability to respond to suggestions and social pressures.

Behaviors Associated with Hypnosis

• Hypnotic analgesia refers to pain reduction reported by hypnotized clients after suggested relaxation.
• Posthypnotic suggestion is a suggestion given during hypnosis to perform a specific behavior triggered by a cue after hypnosis ends.
• Posthypnotic amnesia is the failure to remember events during hypnosis when instructed not to by the hypnotist; often participants report remembering the events even with such instructions.
• Age regression is the act of subjects in hypnosis being asked to return to a past time/age, such as early childhood.
• Imagined perception is experiencing sensations or performing behaviors arising from the person's imagination.

Medical and Therapeutic Applications of Hypnosis

• Hypnosis is used in medical settings to reduce pain, anxiety, or fear.
• It helps patients deal with terminal illnesses.
• It's helpful in helping clients reveal their personalities, understand their lives, and find solutions to problems.

Transcendental Meditation (TM)

• TM involves assuming a comfortable position, closing one's eyes, and focusing attention on repeating words or sounds to induce an altered state of consciousness.
• One study showed a 36% decrease in stress levels in an experimental group that engaged in TM, compared to a control group.

Drugs: Overview

• Drugs are used to obtain pleasure, cope with stress, and avoid pain.
• Psychoactive drugs affect the nervous system, altering consciousness, awareness, moods, feelings, and thoughts.
• Examples of psychoactive drugs include legal (coffee, alcohol, tobacco) and illegal products (marijuana, heroin, cocaine, LSD).

Addiction, Tolerance, and Dependence

• Addiction is a behavioral pattern of drug abuse marked by an overwhelming desire to obtain and use the drug, even after stopping.
• Tolerance occurs when repeated use of a drug means the original dose no longer produces the desired effect.
• Dependency is a change in the nervous system where the user now needs a drug to prevent withdrawal symptoms.
• Withdrawal symptoms are painful physical and psychological symptoms resulting from stopping drug use.

Use of Drugs

• National statistics show that almost 20 million Americans spend over $64 billion on illegal drugs each year.
• Drug treatment programs are more cost-effective than imprisonment.
• Drug education, counseling, and treatment are frequently recommended to reduce illegal drug use.

Effects of Drugs on Nervous System

• Drugs affect neurotransmitters, the chemical keys that open or close chemical locks, causing excitement or inhibition of nearby neurons, organs, or muscles.
• Some drugs mimic neurotransmitters.
• Reuptake can be blocked by certain drugs.
• Drugs often alter the brain's reward/pleasure center.
• Most drugs can affect the brain's neurotransmitters (chemical keys).

Stimulants

• Stimulants (cocaine, amphetamines, caffeine, nicotine) increase central nervous system activity, causing heightened alertness, arousal, euphoria, and decreased appetite.
• Amphetamines were heavily prescribed in the 1960s but largely outlawed in 1971 except for disorders like ADHD.
• Methamphetamine use increased in the 1980s, largely created and used illegally.
• These drugs increase the release of dopamine and block reuptake. This leads to potential side effects like restlessness, repetitive behaviors, depression, and serious long-term conditions like liver damage and heart disease.
• Cocaine is derived from coca leaves.
• Cocaine use affects dopamine, creating feelings of euphoria and psychological arousal.
• It can be used externally as an anesthetic.
• Heavy usage of cocaine has negative impacts like reduced dopamine receptors, a need for higher doses to experience the same effect, impairment of pleasure experiences and long-term issues like impulsivity.
• Caffeine, a mild stimulant, increases alertness and reduces fatigue.

Depressants

• Depressants slow the central nervous system. Alcohol is a depressant.
• Ethyl alcohol is the type of alcohol in drinks.
• Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) measures alcohol in the blood.
• A BAC of 0.08% is considered legally drunk in many places.
• Alcohol affects the GABA neural receptors, reducing anxiety and inhibition.
• It also impairs the anterior cingulate cortex, responsible for the control of motor actions.
• High doses of alcohol will impair breathing.
• Alcohol use dangers include frequent hangovers, tolerance, addiction, and physical dependency.
• Withdrawals cause shaking, nausea, anxiety, diarrhea, hallucinations, and confusion.
• Long-term alcohol use leads to liver damage, alcoholism, and brain damage.
• Risk factors for alcoholism include childhood experiences (especially with alcoholic parents), genetics, and psychological tendencies.

Hallucinogens

• Hallucinogens produce strange and unusual perceptual, sensory, and cognitive experiences.
• LSD is a powerful hallucinogen affecting serotonin receptors, increasing stimulation.
• It usually causes visual hallucinations and psychological effects.
• Dangers include bad trips, psychotic reactions, and flashbacks. - Psilocybin from magic mushrooms creates similar effects, but typically with milder and shorter duration hallucinations.
• Mescaline from the peyote cactus, also has effects resembling LSD, causing intense visual hallucinations and increased heart rate.
• Designer drugs like MDMA resemble both mescaline and amphetamines and create euphoria, increased sensations, warmth, and empathy. However, they can also lead to depression and attention/memory deficits after use, and long term brain damage.

Marijuana

• Marijuana is a psychoactive drug derived from the cannabis plant.
• THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) is the primary active ingredient.
• It can be used medically to treat nausea, vomiting and some forms of pain.
• Regular use can lead to psychological dependence.
• It affects THC receptors throughout the brain, including those in the hippocampus, cerebral cortex, limbic system, cerebellum, and basal ganglia.
• Some potential dangers include temporary cognitive impairment, decreased secretion of hormones and immune system effectiveness, especially with high doses, and respiratory problems.

Opiates

• Opiates (opium, morphine, heroin) are narcotics that produce analgesia (pain reduction), opiate euphoria (state between waking and sleeping), and constipation.
• Opiates affect natural endorphin receptors in the brain, but also suppresses endorphin production and dependence ensues.
• Opiates cause feelings of euphoria and analgesia.
• Withdrawal symptoms can be severe, including hot and cold flashes, sweating, muscle tremors, stomach cramps.
• Opiate overdoses can cause respiratory failure and death.

Treatment for Drug Abuse

• Treatment for drug abuse often has four steps: admitting the problem, entering a program, getting therapy, and staying sober.
• Specific treatments for heroin addiction, such as methadone or buprenorphine, are sometimes used.

Explore the fascinating aspects of hypnosis and its relationship with drugs in this quiz. Discover theories on altered states of consciousness and the various susceptibility levels among adults. Test your understanding of key concepts related to hypnosis and its induction methods.