unit 3 consciousness and stress

11th ap psychology

consciousness

- awareness of oneself and one's environment

- impacted by internal and external stimuli

internal stimuli examples

brain stem, chemicals, hunger, sleep

external stimuli example

low lighting

waking consciousness

state in which thoughts, feelings, and sensations are clear and organized where person feels alert

stream of consciousness

- william james

- continuous succession of experiences (unending parade of thoughts, feelings, images, ideas, sensations, conceptions, emotions, etc.)

- "sweeping or scanning"

iceberg theory

- sigmund freud

- the conscious mind processes information sequentially

- the unconscious mind processes information simultaneously

depressants

- slows down neuroactivity

- ex: alcohol, heroin

stimulants

- speeds things up

- ex: methamphetamine, cocaine, ecstasy, caffeine, nicotine

hallucinogens

marijuana, LSD, hemp, cannabinoids

biological rhythm

- periodic fluctuations in physiological functioning that body must go through

- impacts body temperature, blood pressure, production of certain hormones, effectiveness of meds

annual cycles

humans and animals experience seasonal variations in appetite, sleep, and mood

28 day cycle

menstrual cycle (women only)

24 hour cycle

- circadian rhythm

- cycle of varying alertness, body temperature, and growth hormone secretion

90 minute cycle

- sleep cycle

- experience various stages of sleep in this cycle

reasons for sleep

- preservation and protection theory: elimination of waste products, repair of cells & brain tissue, strengthens immune system, preserves energy

- restoration theory: general wear & tear, recuperation, muscles & brain relax

- influence on memory: strengthens/rebuilds fading memories

sleep deprivation

- decrease in efficiency of the immune system

- decrease in the productivity and the efficiency of memory

- increase in safety and accident issues

- contributes to hypertension, impaired concentration, irritability

light sleep (stage 1)

- alpha waves decrease, theta waves increase

- breathing slows, brain waves irregular, occasional twitching, hypnagogic images, hypnic jerks

- easy to wake someone up in this stage

sleep spindles (stage 2)

- brain wave (theta) cycle slows, EEG sleep spindles develop (lasts 1-2 seconds)

- sleep talking

- still relatively easy to wake someone up in this stage

- the first time through this stage lasts approximately 20 minutes

deep sleep (stage 3)

- begin to see large, slow delta waves

- transitional stage

- very difficult to wake someone up in this stage and if they do, they will be disoriented and confused

- lasts only a few minutes

deep sleep (stage 4)

- large, slow delta waves regular

- growth hormones are released and peak, body at lowest level of functioning

- very difficult to wake someone up in this stage and if they do, they will be disoriented and confused

- lasts about 30 minutes

REM sleep

- brain waves resemble beta (waking) waves

- body temperature rises to near-waking levels, eyes move rapidly, heart rate increases

- 90% of dreams occur in this stage

- occurs more later in the sleep cycle

REM paralysis

voluntary muscles are paralyzed

REM rebound

sleep deprivation, and stress, can lead to increases in the amount and frequency of REM sleep

insomnia

- chronic problem in getting adequate sleep

- difficulty falling asleep, difficulty remaining asleep, persistent early morning awakening

- causes: stress, jet lag, depression, health issues, medication, caffeine

- treatments: cognitive behavioral treatment, sleeping pills, alcohol

narcolepsy

- overwhelming daytime drowsiness and sudden attacks of sleepiness

- may collapse directly into REM sleep with episodes lasting 15-30 minutes

- symptoms: cataplexy (loss of muscle tone due to emotional response), hallucinations, sleep paralysis

- causes: absence of hypothalamic neural center

- treatments: neurotransmitters linked to alertness, medications

night terrors

- intense autonomic arousal (e.g. rapid heart rate) and feelings of panic

- impacts children 3-8 years old

- may sit up and stare off, talk incoherently, or scream/panic all while not being fully awake

- panic fades quickly

- occurs during NREM4 (deep sleep stage 4)

somnambulism (sleep walking)

- occurs when a person arises and wanders while sleeping

- occurs during first 3 hours of sleep as we transition out of deep sleep and lasts 15 seconds to 30 minutes

- causes: sleep deprivation, irregular sleep, stress or sickness, drugs

sleep apnea

- breathing repeatedly stops and starts which leads to many repeated awakenings

- deprived of slow-wave sleep

- affects 1 in 20

- causes: smoking, gaining weight

- treatments: lifestyle changes, air pressure mask, oral appliance to keep mouth open, surgery

nightmares

occurs in REM sleep

freud's wish-fulfillment (symbolism)

- dreams are expression of unconscious desires and internal conflicts

- "safety valve" to dispose of unacceptable feelings

- looked at aggressive and sexual motives

- EVERYTHING IN DREAMS ARE SYMBOLIC

information processing

- rosalind cartwright

- dreams provide opportunity to work through problems and emotional issues

- dreams allow us to fix daily experiences in our memory

- DREAMS HELP WORK THROUGH ISSUES

activation-synthesis

- j. allan hobson and mccarley

- neural activation are synthesized into disorganized/random dreams

- dreams are side-effects of neural activity

- DREAMS CAN BE RANDOM

hypnosis

state of consciousness in which the subject is especially susceptible to suggestion

steps of hypnosis

1. focus on what is being said

2. relax and feel tired

3. "let go" and accept suggestions

4. use vivid information

posthypnotic suggestion

- suggestion made during session, carried out after hypnosis using posthypnotic sues

- cues: action, thought, word, image, or event

- shown to help alleviate headaches, asthma, fear, stress, bad habits

hidden observer theory

- ernest hilgard

- hypnosis is special state of dissociated, or divided consciousness

- hypnosis works on immediate consciousness, while another part of subject's mind ("hidden observer") remains aware of what's going on

social influence theory

- irving kirsch

- people who are hypnotized are not in an altered state of consciousness, but rather playing the role expected of them in a given situation

- highlights the power of social influences

what hypnosis can do

- create amnesia for a brief period of time

- relieve pain by dissociation

- alter sensory perceptions

- help people relax in situations that would normally cause them stress

stress

process by which we perceive and respond to certain events (known as stressors) that we appraise as threatening and/or challenging

what stress is not

simply a stimulus/response or necessarily a negative thing

eustress

positive stress

distress

negative stress

acute stressors

- relatively short in duration with a clear endpoint

- ex: athletic competition, presentations

chronic stressors

- relatively long in duration with no apparent endpoint

- ex: poor sleep habits, negative friends, financial issues, medical issues

types of stress

frustration and conflict

frustration stress

- daily hassles

- occurs in any situation in which a hassle of annoyance is present

- insignificant ex: traffic, flat tire, aggravating people

- significant ex: poverty, single parenting

conflict stress

occurs when two or more incompatible motivations or behavioral impulses compete for expression

approach-approach conflict

- a choice must be made between two attractive goals

- ex: schools, food

approach-avoidance conflict

- a choice must be made about whether to pursue a single goal that has both attractive and unattractive aspects

- ex: studying for a test, getting a promotion at work

avoidance-avoidance conflict

- a choice must be made between two unattractive goals

- ex: studying for ap psych or ap chem

significant life changes

- any significant alteration to one's circumstances that require readjustment

- ex: going off to college, marriage/divorce, death of a loved one

catastrophes

- events causing great and often sudden damage or suffering

- ex: war/conflicts (trauma), natural disasters

sympathetic nervous system

- autonomic nervous system

- heart rate and respiration increases, digestion slows

- response to fight or flight

adrenal glands

- endocrine system

- excrete epinephrine and norepinephrine

- outer part of adrenal glands - secrete glucocorticoids - stress hormones

- response to fight or flight

physiological impact of fight or flight

- heart disease

- increased respiration can cause asthma attacks or hyperventilation

- muscle tension can lead to tension type headaches or migraines

- reproduction will become absent or irregular

general adaptation syndrome

- han selye

- body's adaptive response to stress is like an alarm sounding

- alarm reaction stage: activation of sympathetic nervous system

- resistance stage: coping with stressor

- exhaustion stage: reserves depleted, vulnerable to "collapse" or dissociative amensia/fugue

emotional responses

- dependent on stimulus and one's personality

- common responses to stress typically occur along three dimensions of emotions

i. annoyance - frustration - anger - rage

ii. apprehension - embarrassment - anxiety - fear

iii. dejection - depression - sadness - grief

emotion-focused coping

- trying to reduce negative emotional responses

- used when we cannot change situation

- ex: praying, eating, drugs/alcohol, venting, meditation (makes you feel better)

problem-focused coping

- addressing stressors directly

- used when we feel a sense of control over situation

- ex: asking for support, working on time management (fixing the problem)

constructive coping

- healthy efforts to deal with stressful efforts

i. realistic appraisal of the stress and coping resources

ii. learning to recognize and regulate potentially disruptive emotional reactions to stress

iii. direct confrontation of the problem