Consciousness

The Study of Consciousness William James questioned the value of studying consciousness because he could not think of a scientific way to observe or measure another person's consciousness. Even though we can see other people talking or moving around,we cannot actually measure their consciousness. John Watson(founder of behaviorism) also questioned whether consciousness could be studied scientifically.

Consciousness as a construct Consciousness can’t be seen or touched. Many psychologists believe it can be linked with measurable behaviors, such as talking and with brain waves. Intelligence and emotion are also psychological constructs.

Meanings of consciousness Consciousness means awareness but there are different types of awareness. We use our senses as a way to be aware of our environment. Our feelings and emotions let us be aware of our inner selves. The older we get we start to recognize ourselves and our existence.

Levels of consciousness Awareness is more limited at different levels of consciousness. The preconscious level is you being able to recall something if you were asked about it even though you weren’t thinking about it before you were asked. The unconscious level seems to push some memories to the back of our head so we may get distracted while we’re doing something else. The nonconscious level is us knowing things are happening on our body but we are not aware when it is actually happening.

Freud’s Levels of consciousness According to Sigmund Freud, many memories, impulses, and feelings exist below the level of conscious awareness.

Altered states of consciousness Altered states of consciousness is when a person’s sense of self or sense of the world changes. When we are sleeping we are not aware of our surroundings. If you were to be under the influence of drugs you would be in an altered state of consciousness.

The stages of sleep There are 4 stages of sleep which are: beta waves alpha waves theta waves delta waves Stage 1 is the lightest sleep. Our brain waves slow down and we see dreamlike images. The longer we sleep we start to gradually fall into a deeper sleep, which is stages 2, 3, and 4, and our brain waves get slower and slower. During these 4 stages our eyes do not move which we call non-rapid-eye-movement(NREM).

The Stages of Sleep These are the typical EEG patterns for the stages of sleep. During rapid- eye-movement, or REM,sleep EEG patterns resemble those of stage 1 sleep.

Sleep Cycle This is a typical sleep pattern.Most people go through the cycle five times in eight hours. As the night progresses, stages 3 and 4 become shorter, and REM sleep becomes longer.

Why do we sleep? When we are tired we tend to lose concentration. Sleep helps us revive our tired body and build up resistance to infection. Sleep serves important psychological functions like helping us recover from stress. Animals and people who are deprived of REM sleep learn more slowly than usual. They also forget more rapidly what they have learned. REM sleep may help brain development for infants and exercise brain cells for adults.

dreams During REM sleep we have our most vivid dreams. We don’t remember every detail of our dreams because we can’t hold onto a piece of information from one state of consciousness to another for so long. Sigmund Freud believed dreams are symbolic. He thought it gave them a way to cope with pain that they can’t deal with consciously. Biology has a role in dreaming as well. Neurons burst in the part of the brain that controls movement and vision and they create dreams.

Sleep problems Insomnia Nightmares and Night Terrors This is the difficulty of falling asleep. People with insomnia are most likely to worry and have racing minds at bedtime. Nightmares and Night Terrors Nightmares are products of REM sleep. People who are anxious or depressed are more likely to have nightmares. Night terrors are more severe than, nightmares. Dreamers experiencing this gasp for air and feel their heart racing. Night terrors occur during deep sleep(stages 3 and 4). Night terrors may reflect immaturity of the nervous system.

Sleep problems Sleepwalking Sleep Apnea Narcolepsy Sleep walkers roam about almost nightly during stages of deep sleep. They are able to respond to questions while sleepwalking, but when they wake up they typically don’t remember anything. Sleepwalking may reflect immaturity of the nervous system. Sleep Apnea This is a breathing interruption that occurs during sleep. Sleep apnea can also lead to high blood pressure, heart attacks, and strokes. Narcolepsy This is when you suddenly fall asleep no matter what time it is or where you are.

Meditation: narrowing consciousness Meditation is a method for people to relax, calm down, or relieve stress. All methods of meditation focus on a peaceful stimulus. Meditation is apart of some religions such as, Buddhism and Hinduism. Studies show that meditation can lower high blood pressure and help people relax.

Biofeedback: feeding back information Biofeedback is a system that provides information about something that is happening in the body. People have learned to control bodily functions through biofeedback training. Some use it to create alpha waves to cope with tension.

Hypnosis: myths and realities Hypnosis came from the Greek word “hypnos” meaning sleep. Hypnosis is an altered state of consciousness called a hypnotic trance. Brain wave patterns in the hypnotic state are the same as shown in waking state.

Is hypnosis effective? Under certain circumstances and with careful application, hypnosis has been used to help people from feeling pain To help someone quit a habit such as overeating or smoking, a therapist may use post-hypnotic suggestion.

depressants Depressants are drugs that slow the activity of the nervous system. They generally give people a sense of relaxation but can have many negative effects. Depressants include: Alcohol Narcotics Addictive depressants that have been used to relieve pain and induce sleep.

stimulants Stimulants increase the activity of the nerve system. They speed up the heart and breathing rate. Stimulants include: Nicotine Nicotine spurs the release of the hormone adrenaline. Amphetamines This is known for helping people stay awake and for reducing appetite. Cocaine This produces feelings of pleasure, reduces hunger, deadens pain, and boosts self-confidence.

hallucinogens Hallucinogen is a drug that produces hallucinations. Hallucinogens may cause relaxation or feelings of pleasure. However, they can also cause feelings of panic. Hallucinogens include: Marijuana May produce feelings of relaxation and mild hallucinations. LSD May produce intense hallucinations. Users claim that it expands consciousness and “opens new worlds”.

Treatments for drug abuse Treatment for drug abuse varies, depending on the drug abuse Forms of treatment include: Detoxification The removal of the harmful substance from the body, is a way of weaning addicts from the drug while restoring their health Maintenance Programs Participants in these programs are given controlled or less dangerous amounts of the drug or some less addictive substitute. Counseling This treatment can be conducted either individually or in a group. Support Group Support groups usually consist of people who share common experiences, concerns,or problems.