Download Consciousness - Shannon Deets Counseling LLC

Shannon Deets, Ph.D.
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My Driving Principles
Consciousness Defined
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Altered Consciousness
Consciousness Research
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Current Studies
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Psychology as the study of what it means to be
human
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Psychology as the study of what it means to be
aware of our own existence
Psychologists have a responsibility to make a
difference in the world
A belief that consciousness is the key to change
in the world
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Deepak Chopra
Personal Experience
A process of being
Not directly observable by anyone else
Has a me-ness to it
More or less continuous
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Content Consciousness vs Phenomenal
Consciousness
A person’s awareness of everything that is
going on internally and around him/her at any
given moment, which is used to organize
behavior
Waking Consciousness
Altered Consciousness
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Professor A. Ware is conducting research that
looks at the activity of the anterior cingulate
cortex in novice and experienced meditators
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Content
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Ned Etate is a participant in Dr. A. Ware’s
study. He discussed his experience of
perceiving internal and external stimuli
simultaneously during meditation.
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Phenomenal
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A student, Anu Researcher, wants to
understand more about mirror neurons.
Specifically , Anu has two questions.
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Question one: “what are the functions of mirror
neurons with regard to consciousness”
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Content
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Question two: “what do people experience
socially during the activation of mirror neurons
during experiences of alteration in
consciousness?”
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Phenomenal
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State Theories
Role Theories
Trait Theories
Mind/Body Problem
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Subjects who were given 60 seconds of training
to increase their motivation demonstrated
higher responsiveness to hypnotic suggestion.
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Role
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The ability to temporarily suspend the critical
voice of the ego so that individuals feel less
judgmental of themselves and others.
This is sometimes called ego transcendence.
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State and Role!
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While experiencing an alteration from waking
consciousness participants reported having a
part of themselves that continued to be aware
of everything going on.
This is referred to as the Hidden Observer.
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Role and State!
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Essence of the Problem
A person’s awareness of everything that is
going on internally and around him/her at any
given moment, which is used to organize
behavior.
Historical Contemplations
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Rene Descartes
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Historical Contemplations
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Modern Western Contemplations
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Thomas Henry Huxley (epiphenomenalism)
David Chalmers, The Hard Problem
Joseph Levine, The Explanatory Gap
Eastern Philosophy
Candace Pert/ Molecules of Emotion
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Altered Consciousness Induced Through
Authentic Movement (ACIM)
Phenomenological Study
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Rationale
Methodology of My Study
16 individuals
 24-62 years of age
 Dance experience from less than one year to over 50
years
 5 with formal dance training
 3 with formal movement training
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Historical Presentations
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San
Native American
Greek Temple Dancing
Modern Presentations
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ACIM example
Overarching Model
21 Themes
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Belief that ACIM is an universal ability
Belief that movement is an efficient route to
altered consciousness
The role of chemical substances
The presence of an active observer
The role of focus
Universal connectedness
Super-consciousness
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Energy
Transcending the ego
Increased self attributes
Increased acceptance
Transformation of the self
Elevation
Freedom
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Well-being
Spiritual experience
Search for Truth/Reality
Changed Body Relationship
Ecstatic Emotional Experience
Community
Language
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Autism
Adults with Intellectual Disabilities
Helping Professionals
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Psychology as the study of what it means to be
human
Psychology as the study of what it means to be
aware of our own existence
Psychologists have a responsibility to make a
difference in the world
A belief that consciousness is the key to change
in the world
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www.shannondeetscounseling.com
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