Consciousness - PSGA1009 Lecture - University of Nottingham

Consciousness PSGA1009 Psychology of Individual Differences Dr Anthony Beh  ▪ What is consciousness? Overview ▪ Theories of consciousness ▪ The unconscious mind ▪ Cognitive processes and consciousness  What will you learn? Learning outcomes ▪...

Consciousness PSGA1009 Psychology of Individual Differences Dr Anthony Beh  ▪ What is consciousness? Overview ▪ Theories of consciousness ▪ The unconscious mind ▪ Cognitive processes and consciousness  What will you learn? Learning outcomes ▪ Define and explain the concept of consciousness in psychology. ▪ Explore the concept of the unconscious mind. ▪ Analyze the relationship between consciousness and cognitive processes. 3 What is consciousness?  What is consciousness? What does it mean to be conscious? How do you know you’re conscious right now? 5  What is consciousness? Consciousness, refers to the state of awareness of our thoughts, feelings, and perceptions. It is the basis of our cognitive and emotional processes, allowing us to experience and make sense of the world around us. 6 Theories of consciousness  Theories of consciousness ▪ Dualism ▪ Materialism ▪ Functionalism 8 Dualism Dualism, proposed by René Descartes, posits a clear separation between the mind (immaterial) and the body (physical). It suggests that consciousness is non-physical and distinct from the brain. “I think therefore I am” 9 Dualism The Mind-Body Problem Descartes famously argued that the mind (which thinks and feels) is fundamentally different from the body (which is purely physical and can be measured). But how can an immaterial mind cause changes in a physical body and vice versa? 10 Materialism Materialism asserts that consciousness arises from the physical processes of the brain. It suggests a direct relationship between brain activity and conscious experiences. A prominent theory in the scientific community due to advances in neuroscience, supporting the idea that brain functions are closely linked to consciousness. 11 Materialism Neurotransmitters The idea that emotions can be controlled or changed through medication reflects a materialist perspective. Substances like caffeine has a profound effect on alertness. Antidepressants are used to treat depression, by changing the levels of neurotransmitters, resulting to a change in mood. 12 Functionalism Functionalism focuses on the functions and adaptive roles of consciousness. It emphasizes that consciousness serves a purpose in helping individuals and organisms adapt to their environment. Mental states are identified by what they do rather than by what they are made of 13 Functionalism Searle’s Chinese Room Imagines you are inside a room with a rulebook that tells you how to respond to Chinese symbols passed to you. Although you can produce responses in Chinese that are correct and meaningful to someone outside the room, you does not actually understand Chinese— you are just following the rules. 14  Discuss In groups of 3-4, discuss the how the nature of consciousness is understood across these 3 theories, and how they differ across one another? 15 The unconscious mind and behavior  The conscious and unconscious Now that we have an idea of the conscious mind, what do you think the unconscious mind is? 17 Carl Jung Carl Jung, a Swiss psychiatrist and psychoanalyst, introduced the idea of the collective unconscious. He believed that the unconscious mind contains universal symbols and archetypes shared by all human beings. 18 Carl Jung Jung identified archetypes, such as the Hero, the Shadow, and the Anima/Animus, which represent common themes in human experience. 19  Other notable figures Sigmund Freud, the father of psychoanalysis, believed in the existence of the unconscious mind and proposed that it is divided into three parts: the id, ego, and superego. Alfred Adler, an Austrian psychiatrist, introduced the concept of the "inferiority complex." He suggested that feelings of inferiority or inadequacy, often stemming from childhood experiences, can influence behavior and drive individuals to compensate and strive for superiority. 20 Cognitive processes and consciousness  Cognitive processes and consciousness ▪ Visual perception ▪ Memory ▪ Body awareness 22  Visual Perception Motion-induced blindness Is what you see consciously reliable? 23  Visual Perception Blindsight Seeing without conscious awareness 24  Memory Amnesia Memory plays a central role in shaping our consciousness by preserving past experiences and knowledge. Amnesia, a condition that impairs memory function, reveals how the loss of certain memories can disrupt one's sense of self and conscious continuity. 25  Memory Perceptual priming A person who views a picture of an apple before seeing the word "apple" is more likely to recognize the word. This cognitive process demonstrates how memory can influence perception. 26  Body awareness Rubber hand illusion This illusion involves a subject feeling as though a rubber hand is their own when their real hand is hidden from view. It demonstrates how our brain constructs our sense of body ownership and highlights the malleability of this consciousness. 27  Body awareness Out of Body Experience (OBE) Some individuals report experiencing a sense of detachment from their physical body during certain situations. Suspected to be related to brain damage, leading to a failure to integrate multisensory information from one’s own body. 28  Summary of today ▪ Explored the concept of consciousness and various theories describing it. ▪ Outline basic ideas around the unconscious mind. ▪ Reflect on consciousness through different cognitive processes. 29 Thank you Thank you Any questions?