Consciousness

States of Consciousness

  • Overview of states of consciousness and their significance in psychology.

History of Consciousness

  • Psychology originated as a study of consciousness.

  • Behaviorists criticized the integration of consciousness, focusing only on observable behavior.

  • Post-1960 saw a resurgence of mental concepts, including consciousness, in psychological theories.

Theory of Mind (ToM)

  • ToM involves understanding others' beliefs and intentions.

  • It signifies an important cognitive capability that emerges in childhood.

Testing for ToM Emergence

  • Example scenario:

    • Sally places her ball in a basket, then leaves.

    • Anne moves the ball to her box.

    • Question: Where will Sally search for her ball?

Definition of Consciousness

  • Psychologists define consciousness as awareness of self and environment.

Forms of Consciousness

  • Consciousness can be segmented into various forms and factors influencing it.

Biological Rhythms

Annual Cycles

  • Certain species exhibit behaviors like migration, reproduction, or hibernation annually.

  • Humans can experience seasonal changes in appetite, sleep, and mood.

Monthly Cycles

  • Example: Female menstrual cycle averages 28 days.

Daily Cycles

  • Humans demonstrate 24-hour variations in alertness, body temperature, and hormone release.

90-Minute Cycles

  • Sleep includes several stages in 90-minute cycles, fluctuating between REM and non-REM stages.

Rhythm of Sleep

  • Circadian rhythms govern sleep and wakefulness over a 24-hour period.

  • Light influences the suprachiasmatic nucleus, regulating melatonin production from the pineal gland.

Measuring Sleep

  • Sleep consists of five distinct stages every 90 minutes.

Sleep Stages

Awake & Alert

  • High-frequency, low-amplitude beta waves during active engagement (15-30 cps).

Awake but Relaxed

  • Transition to alpha waves (9-14 cps) while eyes are closed but the person remains awake (e.g., during meditation).

Stages 1-2

  • Early sleep characterized by theta waves (5-8 cps) during light sleep and daydreaming.

Stages 3-4

  • Deep sleep indicated by delta waves (1.5-4 cps).

Stage 5: REM Sleep

  • After reaching deep sleep, the cycle shifts back to stage 1 with low-amplitude beta waves similar to waking states.

  • Characterized by rapid eye movements (REM) and vivid dreams.

90-Minute Cycles Changes

  • With each cycle, stage 4 sleep decreases while REM sleep duration increases.

Purpose of Sleep

  • Sleep constitutes a significant part of human life.

  • Prolonged wakefulness impairs immune function and cognitive ability.

Effects of Sleep Deprivation

  • Consequences include fatigue, reduced concentration, irritability, weakened immune response, and increased accident risk.

Accident Frequency Related to Sleep

  • Graphical representation indicates accidents rise with less sleep and decline with more sleep.

Sleep Theories

  • Sleep Protects: Keeping safe from predators during darkness.

  • Sleep Recuperates: Healing and brain tissue restoration occurs.

  • Sleep Helps Remembering: Aids memory consolidation and process recovery.

  • Sleep and Growth: Growth hormone is released during sleep, affecting older individuals differently.

Sleep Disorders

  • Categories include:

    • Somnambulism (sleepwalking)

    • Nightmares (REM)

    • Night terrors (non-REM)

    • Hypnogogic/hypnopompic hallucinations.

Sleep Disorders Continued

  • Narcolepsy: Sudden sleep attacks.

  • Sleep Apnea: Interrupted breathing that affects sleep quality.

Understanding Dreams

  • Why Do We Dream?

    • Wish Fulfillment: Freud's theory that dreams fulfill unconscious desires (manifest vs. latent content).

    • Information Processing: Dreams as a method to organize daily experiences.

    • Physiological Function: Dreams stimulate neural pathways.

    • Activation-Synthesis Theory: Random neural activity generates dreams, emphasizing the need for REM sleep leading to REM rebound.

Hypnosis

  • Franz Anton Mesmer popularized hypnosis, mistakenly thinking of "animal magnetism".

Hypnosis Questions

  • Common inquiries include memory recovery, pain reduction, performance enhancement, and behavior modification under hypnosis.

Hypnosis Theoretical Perspectives

  • Social Influence Theory: Subjects play roles rather than experience altered states.

  • Divided Consciousness Theory: Hypnosis leads to a dissociated state of consciousness.

Drugs and Consciousness

  • Psychoactive Drugs: Substances altering perceptions and mood.

Dependence & Addiction

  • Explains drug use through the "opponent process theory."

  • Tolerance: Diminishing effects requiring higher dosages.

Withdrawal & Dependence

  • Withdrawal symptoms manifest as physical pain and emotional disturbances upon cessation of drugs.

  • Physical and psychological dependencies develop from absence of drugs.

Types of Psychoactive Drugs

  • Major Classifications:

    • Depressants

    • Stimulants

    • Hallucinogens

Depressants

  • Substances that reduce neural activity:

    • Alcohol

    • Barbiturates

    • Benzodiazepines (e.g., Xanax, Valium)

    • Opioids (e.g., morphine, heroin)

Alcohol

  • Impacts motor skills, judgment, and memory; heightens aggression and lowers self-awareness.

Barbiturates

  • CNS depressants that reduce anxiety, negatively affecting memory and judgment.

Opiates

  • Derivatives of opium that alleviate pain and anxiety through neural suppression.

Stimulants

  • Drugs that elevate neural activity and bodily functions:

    • Caffeine

    • Nicotine

    • Cocaine

    • Amphetamines

    • MDMA (Ecstasy/Molly)

Caffeine & Nicotine

  • Both elevate heart and breathing rates, enhancing energy and alertness.

Amphetamines

  • Result in faster body functions, mood elevation, and decreased fatigue or hunger.

Ecstasy

  • Contains stimulant and mild hallucinogenic properties, causing euphoria and potential long-term serotonin damage.

Cocaine

  • Induces short-term euphoria followed by a significant crash effect.

Hallucinogens

  • Definition: Substances that alter sensory perceptions without sensory input.

Hallucinogens Examples

  • LSD: Potent psychedelic utilized for sensory alteration.

  • THC: Active component in marijuana, causing a range of effects including mild hallucination.

  • Psilocybin, Mescaline, and Ketamine: Other notable hallucinogens.