Narrative presentation - how we construct our meaning and consciousness
Consciousness Ch 5. Construct Can not be seen, touched, or measured directly Known by their effects...
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Transcript of Consciousness Ch 5. Construct Can not be seen, touched, or measured directly Known by their effects...
ConstructCan not be seen, touched, or measured directly
Known by their effects on behavior and play roles in psychological theories
Ex: consciousness, intelligence, and emotion
Sensory AwarenessThings outside yourself
Tend to be more conscious of some things than othersSudden changes (cool breeze)Unusual stimuli (dog entering classroom)Intense stimuli (bright colors, loud
noises, sharp pains)
Direct Inner AwarenessBeing aware of things inside yourself
Thoughts, images, emotions, memories
Aware of how you are feeling, remember a friend you had when you were younger, think about abstract concepts like fairness or love
Sense of SelfWe are aware of ourselves and our existence
People begin to understand that they are unique individuals as they get older
Levels of Consciousness
Conscious LevelWhat you are currently aware of/thinking about
Preconscious LevelNot in awareness right now but could recall them if you had to by directing your inner awareness (attention) to them
Unconscious LevelUnavailable to awareness under most circumstances
Nonconscious LevelBasic biological functions
Freud’s view of the unconscious level
Believed certain memories are painful and that some of our impulses (aggressiveness) are considered unacceptable
We use mental strategies (defense mechanisms) to push painful or unacceptable ideas out of our consciousness
Protect ourselves from feelings of anxiety, guilt, and shame
Altered States of Consciousness
Person’s sense of self or sense of the world changesSleepUnder the influence of drugsMeditationBiofeedbackHypnosis
Circadian RhythmsBiological clocks
In humans, include sequence of bodily changes, like temperature, blood pressure, and sleepiness/wakefulness, that occurs every 24 hours
Most studied: sleep/wake cycle
Stages of SleepStage 1: lightest, alpha to theta waves, brief dreamlike images (30-40 mins)
Stages 2, 3, and 4: sleep gets deeper
Stages 3 and 4: delta waves
Stage 4: deepest, most difficulty if waking from this stage (NREM is deeper than REM)
Move through 4, 3, 2, and then REM
REM SleepRapid Eye Movement
Breathe irregularly, blood pressure rises, heart beats faster, brains waves similar to stage 1 sleep, body is basically paralyzed
Whole cycle in about 90 mins
Typical 8 hr night, move through stages about 5 times
REM gets longer each time
Why do people sleep?Revive tired body and build up resistance to infection
Help recover from stress
What happens if we don’t get sleep?Become irritable, difficulty focusing
eyes, speech difficulties and memory lapses
Catching up takes a long time
Why do we need REM sleep?
When deprived of REM sleep, people experience REM-reboundHaving much more REM sleep when they do
finally sleepWhen sleep deprived, tend to learn slower
than usual, forget more rapidly
Some research suggests REM may help brain development in infants and “exercise” brain cells in adults
DreamsMost vivid dreams happen during REM
Can be in black and white or color
During REM tend to have plots and can be very realistic
During NREM sleep, plots are more vague and images more fleeting
Most are about everyday events
Freudian View of Dreams
Dreams reflect a person’s unconscious wishes and urges
Some are unacceptable/painful and these are the ones that show up most often in dreamsNot always obviousDream in symbols which can be interpreted
Sleep ProblemsInsomnia: inability to fall/stay asleep
Alcohol can causeSleeping pills probably not greatest
optionFairly common
Nightmares: bad dreams during REM
Night Terrors: may actually move during sleepDuring NREM sleep, most common in kidsEpisode of fear and panic
Sleepwalking: during deep stages of sleepTypically don’t remember what did/saidNo evidence that sleepwalkers become
violent/upset if awakened, but sit down 1st Most children outgrow it as they matureProbably also reflects immaturity of
nervous system
Sleep Apnea: breathing interruption during sleepWhen air passages are blockedSnoring and obesity associated with itBreathing mask worn to help
Narcolepsy: rare sleep problem in which people suddenly fall asleep no matter the time or where they areEpisodes can be dangerous
Believed to be a genetic disorder or REM sleep functioning
MeditationFocus on peaceful, repetitive stimulus
Become relaxedCan help people lower their blood pressureMake stresses of outside world fade away
BiofeedbackProvides information about something happening in the body
Used to learn to create brain waves produced when relaxing – alpha waves – as a way of coping with tension
Should only be used under direct supervision of a medical professional
HypnosisPeople respond to suggestions and behave as though they are in a trance, relaxed state
Used in variety of ways:Anesthetic/pain preventionReduce anxiety, manage pain, or overcome fears
Used with witnesses to crime (just as likely to make mistakes as others)
Quitting bad habits through posthypnotic suggestion
Drugs and Consciousness
Addiction: after a person takes a drug for a while, his/her body craves it just to feel normal
Have a number of effects on consciousness
DepressantsSlow activity of nervous system
Alcohol: relax, put to sleep, even lethalLong term effects as wellIntoxication = drunkennessLess able to focus on the consequences of behavior
Can bring feelings of elation, take away inhibitions
Can be excuse for behaviors otherwise unacceptable
Narcotics: addictive depressants that have been used to relieve pain and induce sleepEx: Morphine, heroinCan give intense feelings of pleasure, but coming off can put the user in deep depression
High doses impair judgment and memory, cause drowsiness and stupor
High doses can depress respiratory system to point of coma and even death
Experience withdrawal when trying to stop using them (tremors, chills, insomnia, vomiting, diarrhea…)
StimulantsIncrease activity of nervous system
Speed up heart rate, and breathing rate
Nicotine: spurs release of adrenalineMay make people feel more alert and
attentive but doesn’t improve ability to perform complex tasks
Reduces appetite and raises rate at which the body changes food to energy
AddictingSerious health risks: cancer, emphysema,
low birth weight, etc…Second-hand smoke can be hazardous as well
Amphetamines: especially known for helping people stay awake and for reducing appetite“speed” or “uppers”Can produce feelings of pleasure,
especially in high dosesHigh doses can cause restlessness,
insomnia, loss of appetite, and irritability
Can cause hallucinations (perception of an object/sound that seems real but is not)
Can cause delusions (false idea that seems real)
Cocaine: Produces feelings of pleasure, reduces
hunger, deadens pain, and boosts self-confidence
Raises blood pressure and decreases supply of oxygen to the heart while speeding up the heart rate (sometimes leads to death)
Originally a pain killerFreud used it to overcome depressionOverdoses can cause restlessness, insomnia,
trembling, headaches, nausea, convulsions, hallucinations, delusions
Crack cocaine is particularly harmful form
HallucinogensDrug that produces hallucinations
May causes relaxation or feelings of pleasure
Can also cause feelings of panic
Marijuana: produces feelings of relaxation and mild hallucinationsImpairs perception and coordination along with memory and learning
Can cause anxiety and confusionStrong intoxication can cause frightening experiences
LSD: sometimes called acidMuch stronger than marijuana and can produce more intense hallucinations which can be very bizarre
Often convinced that while under the influence they have achieved great insights but once drug wears off, cannot recall
Effects are not predictableSome so frightening that users injure themselves seriously or even commit suicide because in a panic
Some lasting effects (memory loss, violent outbursts, nightmares, feelings of panic)
Even flashbacks
Treatment for Drug Abuse
Detoxification: removal of harmful substance from the body (most common with alcohol and narcotics)
Maintenance Programs: given controlled and less dangerous amounts of the drug or some less addictive substitute (narcotics)
Counseling: individually or group
Support Groups: in setting to provide emotional and moral support (ex: AA, NA)