AP PSYCHOLOGY
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Transcript of AP PSYCHOLOGY
AP PSYCHOLOGY
States of Consciousness
Chapter 7
Chapter 7- What is consciousness?
ESSENTIAL QUESTION:
What is consciousness?
GPS STANDARD: SSPBF2- The student will compare the different states of consciousness.
Consciousness
What is the nature of reality?
How do we know we exist? “I think therefore I am”- Rene Descartes
Consciousness MOVIE REVIEW?
The Truman Show
Consciousness
Can people achieve altered states of consciousness?
Consciousness
Can we control the content of our dreams?
Consciousness
Can we control the content of our dreams?
YES
LUCID DREAMING or Conscious Dreaming is to dream and know you are dreaming. Here you will learn how to become aware of the dreaming state so you can take control of the dream.
Consciousness
Consciousness our awareness of ourselves and our
environments States of consciousness
levels of awareness ranging from being alert and awake to unconsciousness during deep sleep
Changing levels of awareness
Consciousness Focused awareness
our consciousness is selective we can fully focus on any important task we can learn to control and direct our
attention to certain objects, events, or experiences while filtering out extraneous stimuli
as we use the computer or send a text message we generally ignore or are not keenly aware of the tactile sensations of our fingers pressing on the keyboard
Consciousness Drifting consciousness
even though we have the ability for focused awareness, it is difficult to maintain a state of focused awareness for too long
our minds start drifting from thought to thought
drifting consciousness is a state of awareness characterized by drifting thoughts or mental imagery
Consciousness Drifting consciousness
daydreaming a form of consciousness when one is awake in which one’s mind wanders to dreamy thoughts or fantasies
Consciousness Divided Consciousness
a state of awareness characterized by divided attention between two or more tasks or activities performed at the same time
typically, one of these activities is a mechanical task such as driving a car
when we drive our brain seems to be on automatic pilot while we are free to think about other things [unless we are driving in a violent rainstorm]
Consciousness States of unconsciousness
unconsciousness a lack of awareness of our external surroundings or a loss of consciousness (due to sleep, head injury, surgical anesthesia, or coma)
Consciousness Altered States of consciousness
sense of time may seem to stand still or speed up
colors may seem more vibrant the person may see visions or hear
voices the person may claim to taste colors
or see sounds
Consciousness Altered States of consciousness
Altered states of consciousness a states of awareness that differ from one’s usual waking state daydreaming exercise- being “in the zone”; in which the
outside world fades out of awareness meditation hypnosis use of mind-altering drugs- alcohol, marijuana,
hallucinogens, other psychoactive substances
Consciousness Altered States of consciousness
all of the world’s major religious figures claimed to have experienced altered states of consciousness
they experienced altered states of consciousness when they had mystical experiences:
prophetic visions visitation by gods, or angels achieving a state of enlightenment were able to perform certain types of
miracles after prayer, or meditation, even though the miracle was performed through a supernatural method within that belief system
Dreams: Freud
Sigmund Freud--The Interpretation of Dreams (1900) wish fulfillment eliminate or deal with otherwise
unacceptable feelings Manifest Content
remembered story line of the dream Latent Content
underlying meaning of the dream
Dreams: Freud
Dreams sequence of images, emotions, and
thoughts passing through a sleeping person’s mind
hallucinatory imagery discontinuities- lack of logical
sequence incongruities- lack of harmony or
agreement; incompatible delusional acceptance of the content difficulties remembering
Dreams: Why do we Dream?
To satisfy a desire or wish dreams provide a psychological
safety valve that discharges otherwise unacceptable feelings
Dreams: Why do we Dream?
To satisfy a desire or wish dreams provide a psychological safety
valve that discharges otherwise unacceptable feelings
As Information Processing to file away memories REM sleep facilitates memories dreams help sift, sort, and fix the day’s
experiences in our memories
Dreams: Why do we Dream?
To develop and preserve neural pathways dreams may serve a physiological function
by providing the sleeping brain with periodic stimulation
To make sense of neural static dreams are activated from neural activity
that spreads upward from the brainstem This is called the activation-synthesis theory the signals from the brainstem are
processed and our brain creates a story to try to make sense of the random signals
Dreams: Why do we Dream?
To reflect cognitive development dreams may be a part of brain maturation and the
development of thinking dreams are created from our personal knowledge
and memories REM Rebound
We need REM sleep When deprived of REM, people return more and
more quickly to REM sleep when they finally get to sleep
REM sleep increases following REM sleep deprivation
When finally allowed to sleep undisturbed, people sleep deeply and experience REM Rebound
Sleep and Dreams Measuring sleep activity
Electroencephalogram
Brain Waves and Sleep Stages
Alpha Waves slow waves of a
relaxed, awake brain
Delta Waves large, slow waves
of deep sleep Hallucinations
false sensory experiences
Stages in a Typical Night’s Sleep
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
4
3
2
1
Sleepstages
Awake
Hours of sleep
REM
REM occurs approximately
every 90 minutes
Sleep Across the Lifespan
Sleep and Dreams
Biological Rhythms periodic physiological fluctuations
Circadian Rhythm the biological clock regular bodily rhythms that occur
on a 24-hour cycle [23 hrs, 56 minutes], such as of wakefulness and body temperature
Sleep and Dreams REM (Rapid Eye Movement) Sleep
recurring sleep stage (occurs approximately every 90 minutes)
vivid dreams “paradoxical sleep”
muscles are generally relaxed, but other body systems are active
a mechanism of the brainstem that controls sleep also inhibits spinal motor neurons thus preventing actual physical movement
PSYCHOLOGY
“Sleep, those little slices of death; Oh how I loathe them.”- Edgar Allan Poe
US short story author, editor, & poet (1809 - 1849)
Sleep DeprivationEffects of Sleep Loss
•fatigue• memory problems •impaired concentration•depressed immune system•greater vulnerability to accidents •promotes obesity
Sleep Deprivation
Effects of Sleep Loss continued….• makes our behavior mimic certain pathological psychiatric conditions like schizophrenia• can cause hallucinations• can cause delusional beliefs & paranoia
Sleep Deprivation
Effects of Sleep Loss continued….• makes us more primitive• makes us more violent• makes us more emotional• makes us more fearful• can lead to depression• suicidal thoughts or actions
•depressed immune system•greater vulnerability to accidents
Sleep Disorders
Night Terrors (not nightmares) occur within 2 or 3 hours of falling
asleep, usually during Stage 4 high arousal-- appearance of being
terrified usually occurs in children they may sit up and walk around they may talk incoherently heart rate and breathing rate
doubled
Night Terrors
Night Terrors occur within 2
or 3 hours of falling asleep, usually during Stage 4
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
4
3
2
1
Sleepstages
Awake
Hours of sleep
REM
Sleep Disorders
Somnambulism (sleepwalking is also a Stage 4 sleep disorder) an abnormal condition of sleep in
which motor acts (walking) are performed
children are also most prone to sleepwalking
young children have the deepest and lengthiest stage 4 sleep which makes them more likely to experience sleepwalking
Sleep Disorders
Somnambulism (sleepwalking is also a Stage 4 sleep disorder) sleepwalking is usually harmless and
is not recalled the next morning sleepwalkers usually return to bed
on their own or are guided by a family member
it is not dangerous to wake them up after the age of 40, sleepwalking is
rare because stage 4 sleep diminishes
Other Sleep Disorders
Insomnia persistent problems in falling or
staying asleep Narcolepsy
uncontrollable sleep attacks Sleep Apnea
temporary cessation of breathing momentary reawakenings
Sleep Across the Lifespan
Brain Waves and Sleep Stages
Stages in a Typical Night’s Sleep
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
4
3
2
1
Sleepstages
Awake
Hours of sleep
REM
REM occurs approximately every 90 minutes
Hypnosis
Hypnosis a social interaction in which one
person (the hypnotist) suggests to another (the subject) that certain perceptions, feelings, thoughts, or behaviors will spontaneously occur
Posthypnotic Amnesia supposed inability to recall what one
experienced during hypnosis induced by the hypnotist’s suggestion
Hypnosis
Anton Mesmer (1734-1815) an Austrian physician Mesmer passed magnets over the
bodies of sick people some of the people would lapse into
a trancelike state this trancelike state became known
as being mesmerized
Hypnosis
Anton Mesmer (1734-1815) Benjamin Franklin was the head of a
commission which studied this phenomenon
the commission found no evidence that the phenomenon was “real”
instead the commission found that Mesmer’s “cures” were the “mere imagination” of his subjects
Hypnosis
Can anyone experience hypnosis? to some extent, nearly everyone is
suggestible however, about 20% are highly
hypnotizable the highly hypnotizable usually
have rich fantasy lives they very easily become absorbed
in the imaginary events in a novel or movie
Hypnosis
Hypnotic ability Many researchers refer to the highly
hypnotizable, those who are most susceptible to hypnosis, as having:
hypnotic ability- the ability to focus attention totally on a task, to become totally absorbed in it, to be able to exhibit an almost unrestrained imagination
Hypnosis
Unhypnotized persons can also do this
Hypnosis
Orne & Evans (1965) hypnotized subjects can be induced to
perform dangerous acts control group instructed to “pretend” unhypnotized subjects performed the
same dangerous acts as the hypnotized ones
Hypnosis
Orne & Evans (1965) continued… this illustrates an important concept of
social psychology illustrated by Solomon Asch’s experiments on group pressure and conformity
A person in a position of authority in a legitimate context or role can induce people through social influence to perform some unlikely or even dangerous acts
Hypnosis
Posthypnotic Suggestion suggestion to be carried out after the
subject is no longer hypnotized used by some clinicians to control
undesired symptoms and behaviors: headaches asthma stress-related skin disorders treatment of obesity (helps the person
adjust eating habits toward more healthy foods and eating in moderation)
Conversational Hypnosis ?
Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) a series of well choreographed
strategies and verbal manipulations to bring others influence others to take a different point of view
NLP uses rapport, indirect suggestions, and confusions to induce a suggestible state of consciousness and to influence conformity
Conversational Hypnosis ?
Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) the principles of conversational hypnosis
were first presented by the psychotherapist and hypnotist Milton Erickson
Erikson believed people are altering their state of consciousness constantly throughout the day:
thinking while waiting for the bus reading concentrating on a problem
Conversational Hypnosis ?
Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) Rapport- the first step in
conversational hypnosis is to establish rapport with the patient or subject by agreeing with what they have to say
If the subject says, “There’s no way out of this problem of mine. The therapist responds with, “You’re right. There is no way out.”
Conversational Hypnosis ?
Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) Confusion- the next step in
conversational hypnosis is to confuse the issue
The therapist says, “ Even though you are right and there is no way out, can you be absolutely sure that there is no solution to this problem?”
Conversational Hypnosis ?
Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) Suggestion- the final step in conversational
hypnosis is to make an indirect suggestion
The therapist finally says, “ You seem to be feeling a little less hopeless now, aren’t you? I don’t know why but it seems to me that you look more optimistic than you did when we started our session today.”
Conversational Hypnosis ?
Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) Tony Robbins travel from town to town
to teach their wisdom for a fee. Robbins is probably the most successful practitioner of NLP. He started his own empire after transforming from a self-described "fat slob" to a firewalker to (in his own words) "the nation's foremost authority on the psychology of peak performance and personal, professional and organizational turnaround."
Conversational Hypnosis ?
Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) While I do not doubt that many people benefit from
NLP training sessions, there seem to be several false or questionable assumptions upon which NLP is based. Their beliefs about the unconscious mind, hypnosis and the ability to influence people by appealing directly to the subconscious mind are unsubstantiated. All the scientific evidence which exists on such things indicates that what NLP claims is not true. You cannot learn to "speak directly to the unconscious mind " as Erickson and NLP claim, except in the most obvious way of using the power of suggestion through regular hypnosis.
Conversational Hypnosis ?
Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) NLP makes claims about thinking and
perception which do not seem to be supported by neuroscience. This is not to say that the techniques won't work due to the placebo affect. They may work and work quite well, but there is no way to know whether the claims behind their origin are valid.
Hypnosis
Can hypnosis alleviate pain? hypnosis can relieve pain in surgical experiments,
hypnotized patients: have required less anesthesia recovered sooner left the hospital earlier than the
unhypnotized
How does hypnosis alleviate pain?
Dissociation (a divided consciousness) a split between different levels of
consciousness allows some thoughts and behaviors to
occur simultaneously with others hypnosis separates the sensation of the
pain stimulus (of which the person is still aware) from the emotional suffering that defines our experiences of pain
How does hypnosis alleviate pain?
Hidden Observer- Ernest Hilgard’s term describing a hypnotized subject’s awareness of experiences, such as pain, that go unreported during hypnosis
Explaining Hypnosis
Drugs and Consciousness
Psychoactive Drug a chemical substance that alters
perceptions and mood Physical Dependence
physiological need for a drug marked by unpleasant withdrawal
symptoms Psychological Dependence
a psychological need to use a drug for example, to relieve negative emotions
Dependence and Addiction
Tolerance diminishing effect
with regular use Withdrawal
discomfort and distress that follow discontinued use
Small Large
Drug dose
Littleeffect
Bigeffect
Drugeffect
Response tofirst exposure
After repeatedexposure, moredrug is neededto produce same effect
Psychoactive Drugs
Depressants drugs that reduce neural
activity slow body functions
alcohol, barbiturates, opiates
Psychoactive Drugs
Barbiturates drugs that depress the
activity of the central nervous system, reducing anxiety but impairing memory and judgement
Normal Brain Alcohol
Brain on depressants: Alcohol
Psychoactive Drugs Mixing Alcohol & Barbiturates
The most dangerous thing to mix with a sedative (alcohol) is another sedative or "downer". The combination can lead to extreme depression of the Central Nervous System and be fatal. When combined with alcohol these drugs have a synergistic effect, meaning that the combined depression of the CNS is greater than the sum of the depression caused by alcohol and that of the sedative.
This effect can be expressed with the equation 1+1=3 (the combined effect is more intense than the separate effects combined).
Psychoactive Drugs
Stimulants drugs that excite neural activity speed up body functions
caffeine, nicotine, amphetamines, cocaine
Psychoactive Drugs
Amphetamines drugs that stimulate neural
activity, causing speeded-up body functions and associated energy and mood changes
Amphetamine withdrawal is often accompanied by suicidal thoughts
Normal Brain Methamphetamine
Brain on stimulants: Methamphetamine
Psychoactive Drugs
Hallucinogens psychedelic (mind-
manifesting) drugs that distort perceptions and evoke sensory images in the absence of sensory input LSD
Perceived Marijuana Risk
‘75 ‘77 ‘79 ‘81 ‘83 ‘85 ‘87 ‘89 ‘91 ‘93 ‘95 ‘97 ‘99Year
100%
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Percentof
twelfthgraders
Perceived “great risk ofharm” in marijuana use
Used marijuana
Psychoactive Drugs
Ecstasy (MDMA) synthetic stimulant and mild hallucinogen both short-term and long-term health risks
LSD lysergic acid diethylamide a powerful hallucinogenic drug also known as acid
THC the major active ingredient in marijuana triggers a variety of effects, including mild
hallucinations
Normal Brain Marijuana
Brain on Hallucinogens: Marijuana
Psychoactive Drugs
Marijuana & Alcohol Prolonged marijuana & alcohol abuse
can lead to depression
Psychoactive Drugs
Mixing Marijuana & Alcohol Smoking pot when drinking alcohol
can suppress the drinkers sensations of nausea or need to vomit, making overdose more possible.
When a person has consumed enough alcohol that alcohol poisoning is a concern, their body needs to vomit.
Pot suppresses the instinct to vomit, and excess alcohol is not expelled, making overdose more likely.
Psychoactive Drugs
Opiates opium and its derivatives
(morphine and heroin) opiates depress neural
activity, temporarily lessening pain and anxiety
Cocaine Euphoria and Crash
Trends in Drug Use
1975 ‘77 ‘79 ‘81 ‘83 ‘85 ‘87 ‘89 ‘91 ‘93 ‘95 ‘97 ‘99Year
80%
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
High schoolseniors
reportingdrug use
Alcohol
Marijuana/hashish
Cocaine
Psychoactive Drugs
Meditation
Meditation is a process of focused attention that
induces a relaxed, calm, and thoughtful state of awareness
to attempt to remove all other thoughts from consciousness, practitioners of meditation narrow their attention to a single object or thought
Meditation
Meditation (a healthy practice) many people do not believe in the spiritual or
religious aspects of meditation but rather practice it for the health benefits that it can provide
scientific evidence shows that the regular practice of meditation helps relieve the effects of stress
others believe that it is a useful therapeutic treatment for:
alcohol & drug addiction anxiety disorders chronic pain headaches
Meditation
Meditation (testimony & science) people who practice meditation describe
it as a relaxed but alert state scientific evidence indicates that the
people are relaxed and alert the research indicates that they are much
more relaxed than people who just close their eyes and rest quietly
Meditation
Meditation as practiced in some religions the particular meditative technique which is
used varies among the different cultures that use it:
Ancient Egyptians stared at an oil-burning lamp
Hindu Yogis focused on the design on a vase or some other graphic symbol
Turkish “Whirling Dervishes” focus on their breathing as they spin themselves around & around in religious devotion
Meditation
Japanese Zen Buddhists sometimes use a musical chant
Many meditation practitioners repeat a phrase or sound like (ohhmmm) which is called a mantra
Meditation
Temporal lobe the temporal lobe is involved with mood
stability as well as rhythm and music
Singing is good for us… sing whenever you can
Humming and “Toning” are good for the brain humming & toning have a healing affect on
the temporal lobes as well as the limbic system (emotional center of the brain)
Meditation
Toning with mantras- toning balances brainwaves, deepens the breath, reduces the heart rate, and imparts a general sense of well-being. ( Daniel G. Amen, M.D. from Change Your Brain, Change Your Life)
Meditation
Certain sounds have effects on the body & emotions: ( Daniel G. Amen, M.D. from Change Your Brain, Change Your Life)
Ahhh- immediately causes a relaxation response Ee or ayyy- is the most stimulating of vowel
sounds; helps us with concentration, releasing pain and anger
Oh or ohm- considered the richest of sounds; can warm skin temperature and relax muscle tension
Meditation
Meditation (a spiritual practice) some people who practice meditation
believe it does more than just relax the body and mind
they believe that it can expand consciousness and help them achieve a state of pure awareness and inner peace
some believe it leads to a form of spiritual enlightenment (Buddhism- nirvana, Hinduism- moksha)
Near-Death Experiences
Near-Death Experience an altered state of
consciousness reported after a close brush with death
often similar to drug-induced hallucinations
Near-Death Experiences
Dualism the presumption that mind and body are two distinct entities that interact
Monism the presumption that mind and body are different aspects of the same thing