Introduction to Psychology Notes PDF

[Introduction to Psychology] *Supplementary Notes to Ch. 4* [States of Consciousness: ] Consciousness -- at the highest level it means a mental state when we are fully absorbed in our worlds and our thoughts are fixed on details of what we are concentrating on. It occurs at various levels. Ex: d...

[Introduction to Psychology] *Supplementary Notes to Ch. 4* [States of Consciousness: ] Consciousness -- at the highest level it means a mental state when we are fully absorbed in our worlds and our thoughts are fixed on details of what we are concentrating on. It occurs at various levels. Ex: during sleep, day dreaming, and fully alter states as well as drug induced states. *Altered States of Consciousness* A state of awareness that the individual can recognize as a deviation from normal waking life. It may result in behaviour that differs from a person's normal and expected behaviour. A.S.C. has been defined as any mental state caused by; 1\) Physiological 2\) Psychological 3\) Pharmacological [Circadian Rhythms: ] Our bodies have a '24 hour clock'. Rhythms that are controlled by the brain and affect our regular biological functions and fluctuations from high and low points during the day. For example, the regulation of blood pressure, heart rate, appetite, sleep patterns, and hormone secretion are all affect by these rhythms. Two Key cycles of C.R. 1\) Rhythms that affect alertness 2\) Rhythms that affect body temperature These rhythms affect many areas of our daily lives. They affect/control our ability to reason, to learn, to rest & sleep, reproduction, work production, etc. When these rhythms are broken or out of sync many side effects may result and a period of time is needed to get back to a regular pattern. One's body temperature normally increases throughout the day from 97 degrees in the AM up to potentially 98.5 in the early evening. It takes about three weeks for the body to adjust to change; a consistent change in the CR's and when it comes to the work place this can become a real problem. How? [Forms of Altered States of Consciousness (ASC*)* ] *1.* Meditation: - *Often used as a type of treatment, a process* of treatment in addictions - A type/process of deep relaxation - The individuals heart rate and respiratory systems slow down - Brain wave activity increases 2\. Hypnosis: - Some people are more suggestible than others - Sometimes used to control pain in medical treatments - Participants have to suspend their usual rational & logical ways of thinking 3\. Day Dreaming: - Some say it has/holds no special effect on the individual - Often occurs when; a. A person rather be elsewhere, b. When doing something that requires little concentrated effort, c. To escape from the demands of the real world - Three groups of Day Dreaming (Singer, 1975) 4\. Sleep and Dreams: - We spend about 1/3 of our lives in sleep - Researchers are not sure exactly why we sleep, why it is necessary - Going to sleep requires loosing awareness and failing to respond to the stimuli that would normally wake us. *Stages of Sleep* (see text) Stage One. Irregular and low-voltage brain waves, slow pulse rate, and muscle relaxation. Stage Two. Brain waves start to show burst of activity called 'spindles'. This equal about 50% of a total night's sleep. Stage Three. Spindles start to disappear and brain waves become long and slow. This is a Deep Sleep: Mostly delta waves appear on an EEG (see text). Stage Four: 'Delta Sleep', the deepest stage of sleep and is marked by slow, even brain waves. After the individuals pass through this stage they return to stage two and start the process over again. \*We will discuss more of these stages in your text. *Rapid Eye Movement (REM) Sleep* Is part of stage four of sleep. Brain waves look like those of a person who is awake, active brain waves. It last about 10-15 minutes and then the person returns to stage two to go through the cycles again. Is REM sleep necessary? That is a question asked by many. It is believed that REM sleep aids in the consolidation of our memories after learning. Others suggests that it helps in the 'mental housekeeping' of none essential or trivial thoughts, memories, experiences of the day. - The individual often recalls in best detail dreams that they were having when awaken during REM sleep - Dreams do occur in both REM and none REM sleep - Use of depressants or stimulants affect your dream stages - Refer to text for most common types of dreams and the definition of *Lucid Dreams.* *Sleep Deprivation* Not getting enough sleep can affect motivation and the ability to sustain performance. Tasks that require little attention or are interesting, not too demanding or short can be accomplished. However, tasks requiring greater attention, concentration, or focus are more difficult. *Some Sleep Disorder* Insomnia: The inability to sleep. Usually comes from stressful life, day events and is usually only a temporary problem. \* The most common sleep disorder for anyone to have. Sleep Apnea: Marked by periods of sleep when breathing stops and the individual must awaken briefly to breath. \* Refer to your text for the suggested causes. Narcolepsy: A sudden loss of muscle tone, falling asleep without notice or intention to do so. It is a sudden attack of REM sleep. \* See text for cause and treatment Nightmares: A very frighten dream. Often recalled in great detail and often occurs toward the early morning hours in a longer REM sleep. Sleep Talking: Rarely does the person respond to directed questions; words & phases that usually make no sense on its service to the observer. Parasomnias: Sleepwalking; the persons eyes are open, blank look on their face, and shuffle about. Sleep Terrors; usual start with a scream, eyes open, the person may be perspiring, increased heart rate, and often occurs in early night. 5\. Drug Induced Experiences: This depends heavily on ones or both of the following; a. The individual's expectations or emotional state at the time. b. The individual's physical and social environment at the time. Psychoactive Drug - Any substance (other than food) that alters the behaviour, mood, perception, or thought processes on the person. Some such substances are legal while others may not be. Examples: Such drugs may be taken orally, injection, inhalation, or by absorption through the skin or membranes. Some hazards associated with these substances are toxicity, addiction, and criminal behaviour. Toxicity: Physical or psychology harm that the quantity of drug presents to the user. *Acute toxicity* is the immediate harm from the taking of the drug. Example: *Chronic toxicity* is the harm caused over a long period of use. Such as... Addiction: Psychological dependency: a craving for the pleasurable effects of a drug, an irresistible urge for the drugs pleasurable effects. This part of addiction is viewed by many to be the most difficult to treat. Physical dependency: continued use or abuse of a drug to avoid unpleasant withdrawal systems, the body's physical or biological need for the substance in order to function as usual. - Tolerance is a result of the body's natural ability to protect itself against harmful substances. In most such cases more of the drug is required for the individual to experience the previous level of affect. Stimulants (uppers) - Speed up the CNS - Suppress ones appetite - Produces feelings of an energetic rush, increases anxiety - Increase pulse, blood pressure, respiration Depressants (downers) - Decreases the activity of the CNS - Slows one's body functions, motor skills - Reduces sensitivity to outside stimulation Note: Caffeine may be the most common and widely used stimulant while alcohol is considered the most widely used depressant.