Consciousness http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjfaoe847qQ

What is Consciousness? Definition: Awareness to one’s own mental activity as well as the environment Meaning Has 3 Applications: Sensory Awareness Inner Awareness Sense of Self

Sensory Awareness Explanation: being aware of all the sensations around you being aware of things outside your body Additional Information: 1. Selective Attention focusing on one stimuli when others are going on around you at same time 2. Tend to pay more attention to - Unusual Stimuli (person cross dressing) - Intense Stimuli (fireworks going off) - Sudden Changes(lights turn off in room)

Inner Awareness Explanation: being aware of one’s own thoughts, feelings, and memories without using the senses being aware of things inside yourself In Other Words………. 1. You DO NOT see, smell, touch the thoughts, feelings, and memories 2. Examples: - aware of being happy - aware of being nervous - memories of summer vacation - thoughts of love

Sense of Self Explanation: being aware of one’s identity and self-direction being aware of ourselves and our own existence as a person in this world In Other Words………. 1. Understanding one is unique & separate from other people 2. Examples: - self-concept - self-expression - self-esteem - self-centeredness

Levels of Consciousness Additional levels of consciousness where… …awareness is more limited! They are: - Preconscious Level - Unconscious Level - Nonconscious Level

Levels of Consciousness Conscious level    information about yourself and your environment of which you are currently aware Preconscious level    Information about yourself or your environment that you are not currently thinking about, but you could be if cued. Unconscious level    events and feelings that are unacceptable or inappropriate to our conscious mind and are repressed into the unconscious mind.  (Subconscious level   Information that we are not consciously aware of but we know must exist due to behavior) Nonconscious level    Body processes controlled by your mind that we are not usually aware of

Continuum of Consciousness Controlled Processes Require full awareness Alertness & concentration interferes w/ execution of other activities Driving a Car for the first time Automatic Processes Requires little awareness, take minimal attention, and do NOT interfere w/ other activities Eating while reading or watching television Driving along familiar route Daydreaming Low level of awareness required Often occurs during automatic processes Involves fantasizing or dreaming while awake Usually happens at time where little attention is required, repetitive or boring activities Altered States Result from: medication, hypnosis, psychoactive drugs, or sleep deprivation to produce an awareness different than normal consciousness LSD Sleep 5 different stages Dreaming--a unique state conscious As we sleep, we experience astonishing images (visual, tactile, auditory)