AP Psychology - 1.13

constructs

concepts that require a belief in something that cannot be seen or touch, but seem to exist because of their effect on behavior

consciousness

the subjective awareness (or perceptions) of the environment and of one's own mental processes [External & Internal components]

What do some psychologists (such as Behaviorists [i.e. Watson]) believe that the science of Psychology should not deal with?

the question of the consciousness at all

Consciousness and Sensory Awareness

experiencing your enviroment though perception of sensory stimulation (in watered down terms: awareness of the world around us)

How can we adapt to our environment?

by learning what stimuli must be attended to and which can be ignored

Sensory as Direct Inner Awareness

knowledge of one's own thoughts, feelings, and memories without using sensory organs such as touch or smell; the subjective self

Consciousness as an Altered State

states other than normal waking awarness, including daydreaming, sleep, meditations, the distorted perceptions produced by drugs, or [debated] hypnosis

Preconsciousness

material that is not in awareness but can be brought into awareness by focusing one's attention; easy to retrieve/bring to mind

Subconscious

• unavailable to awareness under most circumstances

  • Freud called this 'unconscious'

Nonconscious

incapable of being experienced either through sensory awareness or direct inner awareness

Hypnosis

an altered state of consciousness during which people respond to suggestions and behave as though they are in a trance

Things to remember about hypnosis

• Not everyone can be hypnotized

• Today, it is used in areas from entertainment to surgery to cessation therapy

  • Not valid for use in courtroom testimony, and sketchy as treatment for psychological disorders