States and Levels of Awareness PDF

**1.1.10 States and levels of awareness** [**MCQ Exam Pre-Clinical**](https://passranzcp.com/courses/mcqexam-preclinical/)  [**1.1 Basics of Psychology**](https://passranzcp.com/lessons/1-1-basic-psychology-2/)  [**1.1.10 States and levels of awareness**](https://passranzcp.com/topics/1-1-10-states...

**1.1.10 States and levels of awareness** [**MCQ Exam Pre-Clinical**](https://passranzcp.com/courses/mcqexam-preclinical/)  [**1.1 Basics of Psychology**](https://passranzcp.com/lessons/1-1-basic-psychology-2/)  [**1.1.10 States and levels of awareness**](https://passranzcp.com/topics/1-1-10-states-and-levels-of-awareness/) **In Progress** **Levels of Consciousness and Evidence or Unconscious Processing** Personality and behaviour stem from conflicting psychological forces with three levels of consciousness; the preconscious, conscious, and unconscious. The preconscious contains information, including memories, thoughts, and feelings, that can be transferred to the conscious mind (Cherry, 2020). They are ideas that people can access but do not actively think about them. The consciousness consists of information people know at any moment (Cherry, 2020). In other words, it refers to thoughts and feelings a person is experiencing currently, including their awareness of the environment. The unconscious is part of the mind that contains reserved information. It consists of unpleasant contents, that are repressed to prevent them from causing harm (Cherry, 2020). For example, childhood trauma is held in the unconscious mind to avoid causing effects like anxiety.     **Arousal, Attention, and Alertness** Arousal is being psychologically alert, which can be from an emotional, mental, or physical perspective. Each person has an arousal level that best works for them. Therefore, when people become overly aroused, they seek or rather engage in activities that calm them down (Cherry, 2019). The reverse is true since individuals with low arousal levels seek stimulating activities to regain energy. Attention is the ability to process information in an environment and respond appropriately to stimuli (McCallum, 2019). Attention is about focusing on a particular object or subject and ignoring any other competing stimuli to make sense of the world. On the other hand, alertness is being aware and ready to respond to surrounding environments.   **Sleep Structure and Dreaming** Sleep is a significant part of daily routine that exists in two forms: rapid eye movement (REM) and non-rapid eye movement (non-REM). REM sleep is characterized by decreased brain activities and rapid eye movements (Colten & Altevogt, 2015). Although the eyes move around rapidly, they do not send signals to the brain. Dreaming occurs during the REM sleep phase, and slowed muscle activities prevent people from acting out their dreams (Colten & Altevogt, 2015). Non-REM sleep happens in three phases: In the first stage, the eyes are closed, but an individual can easily wake up (Colten & Altevogt, 2015). The second phase includes light sleep, heart rate, and slow brain activity. The last stage is the deep sleep stage, where it is difficult to arouse an individual; if they wake, they might appear disoriented. **Parasomnias** Parasomnias are unusual behaviours or experiences that happen when a person sleeps or after waking up. The sufferer may appear awake, but they are asleep, and their physical events do not wake them. The unusual behaviours are grouped depending on the sleep phase, Non-REM, and REM (Pacheco, 2020). In the former case, an individual experiences events like sleep terrors where they wake up terrified. They also have confusional arousals, meaning they appear awake but are confused about time and space. Non-REM Parasomnias include sleepwalking and sleep-related eating disorders (Pacheco, 2020). Parasomnias during REM sleep include night disorders, bedwetting, sexsomnia, exploding head syndrome, and recurrent isolated sleep disorders.    **Biorhythms and Effects of Sleep Deprivation** Biorhythms, also known as circadian rhythms are the natural, internal processes that regulate the sleep-wake cycle and other behavioural and physiological processes in living organisms. These rhythms are driven by an internal "biological clock" that is influenced by various cues, such as light exposure and physical activity, and are present in most living organisms, including humans (Suni, 2020). Circadian rhythms are critical for maintaining optimal health and well-being, as they help regulate various physiological processes, including hormone production, metabolism, and immune function. When our circadian rhythms are disrupted, such as by sleep deprivation or shift work, it can lead to a range of negative effects on our health and well-being. Sleep deprivation is a common cause of disrupted circadian rhythms, as it interferes with the normal sleep-wake cycle and can cause a range of problems, including fatigue, decreased alertness and productivity, impaired cognitive performance, mood swings, and increased risk of accidents. Chronic sleep deprivation has also been linked to a range of health problems, including a weakened immune system, reduced ability to fight off infections, and an increased risk of developing chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease. Circadian rhythms play a critical role in regulating various physiological processes and maintaining good health. Disruptions to these rhythms, such as sleep deprivation, can have negative effects on our health and well-being and should be avoided whenever possible. It is important to prioritize getting adequate, consistent sleep in order to support healthy circadian rhythms and maintain optimal health and well-being **Hypnosis and Suggestibility** Hypnosis refers to being alert and aware of the surroundings, allowing for improved concentration on a subject or stimuli. On the other hand, suggestibility is accepting suggestions from another person and acting according to those suggestions. Watts (n.d.) explains that suggestibility is not a product of hypnosis. The author argues that hypnosis merely influences suggestibility, meaning that being alert does not necessarily determine whether individual acts according to suggestions. Some people are confrontational and question every aspect of life (Watts, n.d.). As such, they do not react promptly to suggestions. Other people and non-suggestible do not respond to suggestions other than acknowledging the statements they hear. **Meditation and Trances** Mediation is a way of thinking where a person concentrates on objects or stimuli until they are absorbed into the object. The resulting impact is an intensive reflection of the higher self. As a person meditates, they become relaxed, free of worries, and may exhibit positive emotions such as happiness (Rahman, 2022). Trace is a state of mind in which a person is not fully alert. It differs from sleep in that the person focuses on a particular object. People in trance mode cannot hear, see, or respond to what is happening in their surroundings (Rahman, 2022). However, they can move their body parts, including their eyes and hands.    **References:** \(1) Cherry, K 2019. *The Arousal Theory and Our Individual Behaviors*. \[online\] Verywell Mind. Available at: https://www.verywellmind.com/the-arousal-theory-of-motivation-2795380. \(2) Cherry, K 2020. *The Structure and Levels of the Mind According to Freud*. \[online\] Verywell Mind. Available at: https://www.verywellmind.com/the-conscious-and-unconscious-mind-2795946\#:\~:text=Conscious%2C%20Preconscious%2C%20and%20Unconscious. \[Accessed 11 Dec. 2022\]. \(3) Colten, H.R. & Altevogt, B.M 2015. *Sleep Physiology*. \[online\] Nih.gov. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK19956/. \(4) McCallum -Garrido, G 2020. *Locus of Control \| Simply Psychology*. \[online\] www.simplypsychology.org. Available at: https://www.simplypsychology.org/locus-of-control.html. \(5) McCallum, W.C 2019. Attention. *Encyclopædia Britannica*. \[online\] Available at: https://www.britannica.com/science/attention. \(6) Pacheco, D 2020. *Parasomnias -- Types, Symptoms, & Causes*. \[online\] Sleep Foundation. Available at: https://www.sleepfoundation.org/parasomnias. \(7) Rahman, S 2022. *Meditation vs Trance*. \[online\] buddingbuddhist.com. Available at: https://buddingbuddhist.com/meditation-vs-trance/ \[Accessed 12 Dec. 2022\]. \(8) Suni, E 2020. *What is Circadian Rhythm?* \[online\] Sleep Foundation. Available at: https://www.sleepfoundation.org/circadian-rhythm. \(9) Watts, T. n.d. *Suggestibility and Hypnosis*. \[online\] Selfhypnosis.com. Available at: https://www.selfhypnosis.com/suggestibility/.