Consciousness (Mental) PDF

Topics Definitions Types of Consciousness Level of Consciousness Stages of Consciousness  Consciousness Awareness to one's own mental activity as well as the environment Meaning Has 3 Applications...

Topics Definitions Types of Consciousness Level of Consciousness Stages of Consciousness  Consciousness Awareness to one's own mental activity as well as the environment Meaning Has 3 Applications Sensory Awareness Inner Awareness Sense of Self  Definition The state of being aware; awareness to both internal and external stimuli The state of being aware of and responsive to one's surroundings the state of being characterized by sensation, emotion, volition, and thought (Mind) Consciousness, many have argued, is what separates humans from other animals. Consciousness refers to our awareness of our own mental processes, such as our thoughts, feelings, and sensations. It is possible that we are the only beings on this planet that have this type of self awareness or level of consciousness and the ability to introspect, or look inward and examine these processes. For example, if you are angry, you can try to understand your anger, why you are angry, what that anger feels like, etc. But can a cat?  Types of Consciousness Consciousness as sensory awareness Sounds or smell around you Selective attention- Focusing on particular stimulus Watching TV and Studying Experiment Pick out the speech of an individual in a crowded room with everyone talking Consciousness as direct inner awareness Imagination is a different kind of consciousness Consciousness as sense of self Young children talk in first person because they don't know who they are yet How we exist in the world  Levels of consciousness Sigmund Freud divided human consciousness into three levels of awareness the conscious, preconscious, and unconscious. Each of these levels corresponds and overlaps with Freud’s ideas of the id, ego, and superego. Consciousness An organisms or individuals awareness of, or possibility of knowing what is happening inside or outside itself. Subconscious Consciousness just below the level of awareness. It contains thoughts and ideas just out of our awareness. Unconscious A deeper level of awareness is the unconscious. It contains thoughts and desires about which we have no true or direct knowledge.  Stages of Consciousness Body Clocks Many people begin the day full of energy but then start to feel run- down by mid-afternoon. Other people struggle to plod through the morning routine only to finally feel energetic in the evening. The daily fluctuations of energy levels are known as the circadian rhythm and play and important role in human consciousness. Sometimes referred to as the body's 'clocks,' these daily rhythms have a major impact on your consciousness as well as a wide number of physiological states.  Sleep and Consciousness Sleep has fascinated researchers, scientists and scholars for thousands of years. Technological innovations during the last century allowed scientists to study sleep in ways that simply weren't possible in the past, which has helped lead to a number of theories of sleep.  Dreams and Consciousness At some point in your life, you have probably had a truly baffling dream that left you wondering, "What did that mean?"  Characteristics of Dreams ❑ Dreams Often Feature Intense Emotions ❑ Dreams Are Frequently Disorganized and Illogical ❑ Strange Dream Content Is Accepted Without Question ❑ People Often Experience Bizarre Sensations ❑ Dreams Are Difficult to Remember  Why We Dream Sigmund Freud’s theory of dreams suggested that dreams represented unconscious desires, thoughts, and motivations. According to Freud’s psychoanalytic view of personality, people are driven by aggressive instincts that are repressed from conscious awareness. While these thoughts are not consciously expressed. He also described two different components of dreams: manifest content and latent content. Manifest content is made up of the actual images, thoughts, and content contained within the dream while the latentcontent represents the hidden psychological meaning of the dream  Hypnosis and Consciousness The induction of a state of consciousness in which a person apparently loses the power of voluntary action and is highly responsive to suggestion or direction.The hypnotist does not hypnotize the individual. Rather, the hypnotist serves as a sort of coach or tutor whose job is to help the person become hypnotized." While hypnosis is often described as a state characterized by focused attention, heightened suggestibility. People in a hypnotic state often seem sleepy and zoned out, but in reality, they are in a state of hyper-awareness.  For What Hypnosis used The treatment of chronic pain conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis The treatment and reduction of pain during operations The reduction of nausea and vomiting in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy Control of pain during dental procedures Elimination or reduction of skin conditions including warts  Psychoactive Drugs and consciousness Psychoactive drugs can be used to treat serious medical conditions, but they can also lead to addictions and social problems. Psychoactive is a term that is applied to chemical substances that change a person's mental state by affecting the way the brain and nervous system work.  Psychoactive Drugs Stimulants: Examples of effects include heightened alertness, greater energy, excitability, improvement in mood Depressants. Example of include reduced feelings of tension, relief of anxiety, and muscle relaxation. Opioidis: Examples of their effects include pain relief, drowsiness, euphoria, confusion, and respiratory depression (slowed breathing that keeps the lungs from expanding fully and providing enough oxygen to the body). Hallucinogens :Examples of effects include paranoia, depersonalization (a sense of not being real), hallucinations, erratic behavior, and increased blood pressure and heart rate. Effects of excessive use may include problems thinking and speaking, memory loss, depression, and weight loss. Marijuana(Cannabis) : Examples of the psychoactive effects of marijuana include changes in sensory perception; euphoria; relaxation; appetite changes; impaired memory, concentration, and coordination; and changes in blood pressure