PSYC 110; Chapter 5: States of Consciousness

Consciousness

the awareness of the sensations, thoughts, and feelings we are experiencing at a given moment

Waking consciousness

we are awake and aware of our thoughts, emotions, and perceptions

Altered states of consciousness

all the other states of consciousness

Stage 1 sleep

characterized by relatively rapid, low-amplitude brain waves; beta waves

Stage 2 sleep

characterized by a slower, more regular wave pattern

Stage 3 sleep

the deepest stage of sleep, brain waves become slower, with higher peaks and lower valleys in the wave pattern

REM sleep

characterized by quick, back-and-forth eye movements; increased heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing rate; the experience of dreaming

Unconsciousness wish fulfillment theory

dreams represent unconscious wishes that dreamers desire to be fulfilled

Dreams for survival theory

dreams permit us to reconsider and reprocess during sleep information that is critical for our daily survival

Activation synthesis theory

Hobson’s theory that the brain produces random electrical energy during REM sleep that stimulates memories stored in the brain

AIM Theory

dreams are initiated in the brain’s pons, which sends random signals to the cortex

Manifest content

what we remember and report about the dream

Latent content

the actual, underlying wishes that the dream represents

Sleep apnea

a condition in which a person has difficulty breathing while sleeping

Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)

infants who die while sleeping

Night terrors

sudden awakenings from non-REM sleep that are accompanied by extreme, fear, panic, and psychological arousal

Narcolepsy

uncontrollable sleeping that occurs for short periods while a person is awake

Circadian rhythms

biological processes that occur regularly on approximately a 24-hour cycle

Seasonal affective disorder

a form of severe depression in which feelings of despair and hopelessness increase during the winter and lift during the rest of the year

Daydreams

fantasies people construct while awake

Hypnosis

a trancelike state of heightened susceptibility to the suggestions of others

Divided consciousness

a division or dissociation of consciousness into two simultaneous components

Meditation

a learned technique for refocusing attention that brings about an altered state of consciousness

Psychoactive drugs

influence a person’s emotions, behavior, and perceptions

Addictive drugs

produce a biological and psychological dependence in the user so that the withdrawal from them leads to a craving for the drug that, in some cases, may be nearly irresistible

Biological drug dependence

the body cannot function without it

Psychological drug dependence

people believe they need the drug to respond to daily stress

Stimulants

speed up the nervous system

Depressants

slow down the nervous system

Narcotics

increase relaxation and relieve pain and anxiety

Hallucinogens

drugs that are capable of producing alterations in perception, thoughts, and feelings