Download Consciousness

Chapter Five
Truth or Fiction
 If it were not for cues such as the




sunrise and sunset, people would act
as if a day were 25 hours long.
The only time people dream is just
before they wake up.
It is possible to hypnotize any person
at any time.
People who are drunk always know
that they are drunk.
Smoking leads to more deaths in the
U.S. than automobile accidents do.
 TRUTH
 FICTION
 FICTION
 FICTION
 TRUTH
Section One
I. Meanings of Consciousness
A. Consciousness as Sensory Awareness: we are aware of
the items we see, smell, taste, hear, and feel


We can be unaware of sensory stimulation
We are more aware of unusual stimuli or intense
stimuli
B. Consciousness as Direct Inner Awareness: we are
aware of things within ourselves (memories, past
experiences, etc.)
C. Consciousness as Sense of Self: we are aware
that we are unique individuals, separate
from other people and their surroundings
II. Levels of Consciousness
A. Total Consciousness: we are aware of our
awareness
B. The Preconscious Level: we can answer a
question about something by recalling it, even
if we aren’t presently thinking about it; we
simply direct our attention to it

Ex: What did you have for dinner last night?
C. The Unconscious Level: also called the subconscious;
this information is hidden from us and is unavailable


Freud says we “hide” painful memories and certain
unacceptable impulses—like aggression
We protect ourselves from feelings of anxiety, guilt, or
shame
D. The Non-conscious Level: includes some basic
biological functions

Our fingernails grow, our pupils dilate, we breathe
III. Altered States of Consciousness
 A person’s sense of self or senses of the world changes
 Examples: sleep, drugs, and medications
Section Two
 We sleep about one-third of our lives
 Circadian Rhythms: biological clocks, govern how we
function; include a sequence of bodily changes (body
temperature, blood pressure, and sleep patterns) that
occur on a 24-hour schedule
Sample Circadian Rhythm
I. The Stages of Sleep
 Defined in terms of brain wave patterns measured by
EEGs
 Four brain wave patterns: alpha, beta, theta, and delta
waves
A. Awake/Alert to Drowsiness
1. We emit beta waves—short and quick waves
2. As we relax, we emit alpha waves—a little slower; we
may experience flashes of color or feelings of falling
B. Stage One
1. The lightest stage of sleep
2. Brain waves move from alpha to the slower rhythm of
theta waves
3. Includes brief images, similar to photographs
4. We will remember these images if we awake from stage
one sleep
5. Lasts no more than 30-40 minutes
C. Stages Two to Four
1. We move from stage two to three to four
2. Stages 3 and 4 are the deepest stages and we emit the
slowest brain waves—delta waves
3. We have the hardest time waking from stage four sleep
4. After 50 minutes, we move to stage four and back
through the stages to stage one again
D. Rapid Eye Movement / REM Sleep
1.
We breathe more irregularly, our blood pressure rises, and
the heart beats faster; our brain wave patterns are similar to
stage one (theta waves)
2. Beneath our closed eyelids, our eyes move quickly
3. REM sleep becomes longer as we approach morning
4. REM sleep may help brain development in infants and may
exercise brain cells in adults

During 8 hours of sleep, we may go through five sleep cycles
(1 to 2 to 3 to 4 to 3 to 2 to 1 to REM to 1 to 2, etc.)
II. Why We Sleep
A. For our health: to revive our tired bodies, to build up
resistance to infection, we can help recover from
stress
B. When we go without sleep…
1.
2.
3.
Randy Gardner’s study in 1964 found people became
irrational
We become irritable, our eyes do not focus, we have
speech difficulties and memory lapses
When deprived of only REM sleep, we experience
longer REM sleep when we’re able to reach this stage
III. Dreams
A. Characteristics
1. May be in color or black and white
2. May be realistic or totally disorganized
3. Sometimes we dream in “real time,” a ten minute
dream takes ten minutes for us to dream it
4. Most dreams are extensions of our daily activities
B. We often don’t remember dreams because we are
unable to hold on to information from one state of
consciousness to another
C. Freud’s View
Our dreams reflect our
unconscious wishes/urges
2. Unacceptable and painful
wishes may appear in symbolic
form
1.
D. The Bio-psychological Approach
Dreams begin when neurons stimulate
the section of the brain that controls
movement and vision
2. The brain responds to these random
stimuli by creating stories—whatever is
stimulated is the basis for our dream
 Ex: if the part of our brain that controls
running is stimulated, our dream would
center on running in some way
1.
E. Sleep Problems
1.
Insomnia: the inability to sleep, usually the
inability to fall asleep at bedtime
a.
Racing minds at bedtime
b.
Becomes worse when we try to fall asleep—
increases tension
c.
Solution? Sleeping pills or a variety of
techniques (tense/relax muscles, avoid
worrying in bed, stick to a routine, relax
with daydreams/pleasant images)
2.
Nightmares/Night Terrors: dreams that
frighten us
a.
Usually affect people who are anxious or
depressed
b.
Night terrors: more severe than
nightmares, memories may be vague,
our hearts race and we gasp for air; tend
to occur during deep sleep (stages 3 and
4) and closer to the beginning of sleep
c.
May be due to immature nervous
systems; common with children
3. Sleepwalking: roaming around
during sleep
4. Sleep Apnea: breathing
interruptions during sleep
May result in being tired in the
morning
b. Caused by blocked air passages
c. May be linked to SIDS
a.
5. Narcolepsy: falling asleep at any time in any place
a. Very rare
b. Go straight to REM sleep
c. Treated with medication and frequent naps
Section Three
I. Meditation
A. Definition: narrowing our consciousness
B. Techniques: focus on a peaceful, repetitive stimulus
1. Looking into a candle or oil lamp
2. Looking at intricate/detailed drawings
3. Repeating mantras (pleasing sounds like “om”) and
focusing on the sounds
C. Important in some religions (Buddhism)
II. Biofeedback: Feeding Back
Information
A. Definition: a system that provides the information
about something happening in the body; through
training, people control certain bodily functions
B. Uses
1.
2.
3.
To produce relaxing brain waves
To relax forehead muscles and stop headaches
To lower heart rates and blood pressure
C. A machine is needed to perform the process
III. Hypnosis
A. Definition: a “sleep-like” state in which people
respond to suggestions and/or answer questions
B. Uses
To help people relax, reduce anxiety, manage pain, or
overcome fears
As an anesthetic in surgery
1.
2.
C. Can only occur if the patient is willing!
D. Effectiveness
1. Post-hypnotic Suggestion: technique in which
behavior changes after hypnosis

Some people have stopped smoking after hypnosis
IV. Déjà Vu
 A feeling of re-experiencing a specific situation
 Can be used to relive the experiences of past lives
 Some epileptics experience déjà vu prior to having a
seizure
V. Lucid Dreaming
 Through training, people are able to place themselves
into dreams
 Used to relax and relieve stress
Section Four
Drugs have a variety of effects on the body…therefore they also
affect us psychologically!
I. Depressants
A. Definition: drugs that slow down the nervous system
(breathing, movement, etc.); may make people feel
relaxed
B. Examples
Alcohol
1.
a.
b.
c.
Small doses may make people feel relaxed, but large doses
can up a person to sleep
Can cause intoxication and may be fatal
People may become addictive –alcoholics
Narcotics: addictive depressants used to relieve pain
and induce sleep
2.
a.
b.
Includes: morphine, heroin, and codeine
Users may suffer withdrawal symptoms (tremors, chills,
cramps, rapid heartbeat, insomnia, vomiting, and diarrhea)
II. Stimulants
A. Definition: drugs that increase the activity of the
nervous system
B. Examples
Nicotine
1.
a.
b.
c.
d.
Spurs the release of adrenaline, which increases the user’s
heart rate
Reduces the appetite and increases metabolism
Is addictive; quitters suffer from withdrawal
Can cause serious health risks and thus the surgeon
general’s warnings
2. Amphetamines (speed)
a. Known for helping people stay awake and reducing
one’s appetite
b. High doses can produce feelings of pleasure and highs,
but the users usually “crash” or come down quickly and
become depressed
c. Can lead to hallucinations (people see/hear things
that aren’t real—seeing/feeling bugs crawling all over
you) and delusions (a false idea that seems real—
thinking you can fly)
3. Cocaine
 Produces feelings of pleasure, reduces hunger, deadens
pain, and boasts self-confidence
 Also raises blood pressure and decreases the supply of
oxygen to the brain
III. Hallucinogens
A. Definition: a drug that produces hallucinations; may
produce feelings of pleasure, but may also induce
panic
B. Examples
Marijuana: leads to relaxation and very mild
hallucinations
1.
a.
b.
Can impair perception, coordination, memory, and learning
Used to treat minor aches and pains over 100 years ago (like
Tylenol and aspirin today)
2. LSD/Acid: much stronger than marijuana, produces
strong hallucinations
Users claim they become extremely creative, but may
forget when the effects wear off
b. Effects are not predictable
c. Long or continuous use can lead to flashbacks
a.
IV. Drug Abuse Treatments
A. Detoxification: remove the drug from the body
B. Maintenance Programs: participants are given
controlled amounts of the drug or a less addictive
substitute

Example: nicotine gum to help quit smoking
C. Counseling: individually or in groups
D. Support Groups: include several people who share
similar experiences, concerns, or problems; useful to
provide emotional and moral support

Example: Alcoholics Anonymous