Comprehensive Sleep, Consciousness, and Stress Psychology Review

Consciousness

Awareness of yourself, your thoughts, and surroundings.

Id

Basic impulses that seek immediate pleasure.

Ego

Balances your desires with reality.

Superego

Your morals, rules, and sense of right and wrong.

EEG

Measures electrical activity of the brain.

EMG

Measures electrical activity of muscles.

EOG

Measures eye movements.

ECG

Measures electrical activity of the heart.

REM sleep

Sleep with rapid eye movements and vivid dreams.

Sleep deprivation

Not getting enough sleep.

REM rebound

Extra REM sleep after being deprived of it.

Insomnia

Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep.

Narcolepsy

Sudden, uncontrollable sleep attacks.

Sleep apnea

Repeated pauses in breathing during sleep.

REM sleep behavior disorder

Acting out dreams because normal muscle paralysis is disrupted.

Biological rhythms

Repeating patterns in biological activity.

Circadian rhythm

A roughly 24-hour biological cycle.

Melatonin

Hormone that helps regulate the sleep-wake cycle.

Wish fulfillment

The idea that dreams express unconscious desires.

Problem solving

Dreams may help work through problems.

Activation-synthesis theory

Dreams come from the brain interpreting random neural activity.

Threat simulation theory

Dreams may simulate threats so we can practice responding.

Hypnosis

A focused, suggestible state of attention.

Role-playing theory

Hypnosis involves acting according to expected roles.

Altered-state theory

Hypnosis creates a distinct state of consciousness.

Dissociation

Separation between awareness, thoughts, or feelings.

Meditation

Practicing focused awareness to calm the mind.

Focused attention

Concentrating on one thing.

Open monitoring

Noticing thoughts without focusing on one.

Psychoactive drugs

Drugs that change mood, thoughts, or perception.

Narcotics/opiates

Drugs that reduce pain.

Sedatives

Drugs that slow nervous-system activity.

Stimulants

Drugs that increase nervous-system activity.

Hallucinogens

Drugs that alter perception and can cause hallucinations.

Tolerance

Needing more of a drug for the same effect.

Physical dependence

The body adapts to a drug and may have withdrawal.

Psychological dependence

Feeling mentally or emotionally like you need a drug.

Stress

The body's response to demands or threats.

Primary appraisal

Judging whether something is stressful or threatening.

Secondary appraisal

Judging whether you can cope with the stressor.

Frustration

Stress caused by a blocked goal.

Internal conflict

Stress from competing goals or choices.

Change

A life change that requires adjustment.

Pressure

Feeling pushed to meet expectations.

Approach-approach conflict

Choosing between two desirable goals.

Avoidance-avoidance conflict

Choosing between two undesirable options.

Approach-avoidance conflict

One goal has both good and bad aspects.

General adaptation syndrome

The body's three-stage response to prolonged stress.

Disease of adaptation

Illness that can result from prolonged stress.

Coping

Efforts to manage stress.

Adaptive coping

Healthy ways of managing stress.

Maladaptive coping

Coping methods that make problems worse.

Aggression

Behavior intended to harm someone.

Catharsis

Release of emotional tension.

Defense mechanisms

Mental strategies that protect against anxiety.

Biopsychosocial model

Health is affected by biological, psychological, and social factors.

Immune response

The body's defense against harmful organisms.

Social support

Help from others that can improve coping with stress.

Optimism

Expecting positive outcomes.

Conscientiousness

Being responsible, organized, and self-disciplined.

Resilience

Ability to recover and adapt after difficulties.

Alpha waves

Relaxed, awake brain activity, often with eyes closed.

Theta waves

Brain waves associated with drowsiness and light sleep.

Delta waves

Slow brain waves associated with deep sleep.

Sleep spindles

Short bursts of brain activity during Stage 2 sleep.

K complexes

Large brain-wave bursts during Stage 2 sleep.

NREM sleep

Sleep without rapid eye movements.

Stage 1 sleep

Very light sleep; transition from awake to asleep.

Stage 2 sleep

Light sleep; sleep spindles and K complexes occur.

Stage 3 sleep

Deep sleep dominated by delta waves.