Unit 6- States of Consciousness

Consciousness

Awareness —> awareness of self, bodily sensations, thoughts and the environment

Priming

Readily “activating” certain concepts and associations from one’s memory

Implicit Associations Test (IAT)

assesses people’s reaction times to various stimuli

Mindfulness

a state of heightened conscious awareness of the thoughts passing through one’s heads

Flexible Correction Model

The ability for people to correct or change their beliefs and evaluations if they believe these judgments been biased

Low Awareness

Costs: Influenced by subtle factors Benefits: Saves mental effort

High Awareness

Costs: Uses mental effort Benefits: Can overcome some biases

Hypnosis

a mental state characterized by reduced peripheral awareness and increased focus on a singular stimulus, which results in an enhanced susceptibility to suggestion

Suggestible

People who are more suggestible naturally, are more likely to be more “hypnotizable” that others

Dissociation

Separation of one’s awareness from everything besides what one is focused on

Trance states

involves a dissociation of the self; however, people in a trance state have less voluntary control over their behaviors and actions

Melatonin

The hormone associated with becoming sleepy

Circadian Rhythm

The natural, internal process that regulates the sleep-wake cycle and other physiological processes, roughly following a 24-hour cycle.

Stage 1 of Sleep

a light sleep is marked by alpha/theta waves

Stage 2 of Sleep

Deeper sleep (there are “sleep spindles,” or occasional very high intensity brain waves)

Stage 3 sleep

Marked by a greater muscle relaxation and the appearance of delta waves

Stage 4 Sleep

very relaxed and marked by delta waves

Stage 5 Sleep

marked by rapid eye movement (REM). It is here that people dream most vividly

REM Sleep

A stage of sleep characterized by rapid eye movements, increased brain activity, and vivid dreaming.

Theories of why humans dream

1. Our non-conscious attempt to make sense of our daily experiences and learning

2. Dreams represent taboo or troublesome wishes or desires (popularized by Freud)

Lack of Sleep

irritability, slower reaction time, difficulty sustaining attention, and poorer decision making

Hallucinogens

alter a person’s perceptions, often by creating visions or hallucinations that are not real

Common Hallucinogens

marijuana, LSD, and MDMA (ecstasy)

Marijuana

produces euphoria, active ingredient is THC: distorts perception of time, creating a sense of rambling, unrelated thoughts, and association with increased hunger or excessive laughter

Depressants

substances that, slow down the body’s physiology and mental processes

Alcohol

Most widely used depressant, reduces inhibition, interferes with visual and motor systems of the brain

Narcotics

also a depressant including opiates, produces euphoria

Stimulants

Substances that speed up the body’s physiological and mental processes

Common stimulants

caffeine and nicotine

Affects of simulants

anxiety, headaches and insomnia