PSYC 10A Chapter 5: Consciousness

Problem of other minds

The fundamental we have in perceiving the consciousness of others which makes it difficult to study consciousness

Mind-body problem

The issue of how the mind is related to the brain and body, a factor that makes it difficult to study consciousness

Four basic properties of Consciousness

1) Intentionality
2) Unity
3) Selectivity
4) Transience

Minimal consciousness

A low-level kind of sensory awareness and responsiveness that occurs when the mind inputs sensations and may output behavior

Full consciousness

A level of consciousness in which you know and are able to report your mental state

Self-consciousness

A distinct level of consciousness in which the person’s attention is drawn to the self as an object

Mental control

The attempt to change conscious states of mind

Thought suppression

The conscious avoidance of a thought

Rebound effect of thought suppression

The tendency of a thought to return to consciousness with greater frequency following suppression

Ironic processes of mental control

A mental process that can produce ironic errors because monitoring for errors can itself produce them

Dynamic unconscious

An active system encompassing a lifetime of hidden memories, the person’s deepest instinct and desires, and the person’s inner struggle to control these forces

Repression

A mental process that removes unacceptable thoughts and memories from consciousness and keeps them in the unconscious

Cognitive unconscious

All the mental processes that give rise to a person’s thoughts, choices, emotions, and behavior even though they are not experienced by the person

Dual process theories

Theories that suggest that we have two different systems in our brains for processing information: one dedicated to fast, automatic, and unconscious processing, and the other dedicated to slow, effortful, and conscious processing

Circadian rhythm

A naturally occurring 24-hour cycle

Stages of Sleep

1) Awake (beta waves)
2) Drowsy, relaxed (alpha waves)
3) Stage 1 sleep (theta waves)
4) Stage 2 sleep (sleep spindles, K complexes)
5) Stage 3/Stage 4 sleep (delta waves)
6) REM sleep (fast, random)

REM sleep

A stage of sleep characterized by rapid eye movements and a high level of brain activity

Insomnia

Difficulty in falling asleep or staying asleep

Sleep apnea

A disorder in which the person stops breathing for periods while asleep

Somnambulism

Sleepwalking

Narcolepsy

A disorder in which sudden sleep attacks occur in the middle of waking activities

Sleep paralysis

The experience of waking up unable to move

Sleep terrors (night terrors)

Abrupt awakenings with panic and intense emotional arousal

Manifest content

A dream’s apparent topic or superficial meaning

Latent content

A dream’s true underlying meaning

Activation-synthesis model

The theory that dreams are produced when the brain attempts to make sense of random neural activity that occurs during sleep

Psychoactive drugs

Chemicals that influence consciousness or behavior by altering the brain’s chemical message system

Drug tolerance

The tendency for larger doses of a drug to be required over time to achieve the same effect

Physical dependence

The pain, convulsions, hallucinations, or other unpleasant symptoms that accompany withdrawal from drug use.

Psychological dependence

A strong desire to return to the drug even when physical withdrawal symptoms are gone

Depressants

Substances that reduce the activity of the central nervous system (e.g. alcohol)

Stimulants

Substances that excite the central nervous system, heightening arousal and activity levels

Narcotics/Opiates

Highly addictive drugs derived from opium that relieve pain

Hallucinogens

Drugs that alter sensation and perception and often cause visual and auditory hallucinations

Marijuana (cannabis)

The leaves and buds of the hemp plant, which contain a psychoactive drug called tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)

Gateway drug

A drug whose use increases the risk of the subsequent use of more harmful drugs

Expectance theory

The idea that alcohol effects can be produced by people’s expectations of how alcohol will influence them in particular situations

Alcohol myopia

A condition that results when alcohol hampers attention, leading people to respond in simple ways to complex situations