States of Consciousness

(1) Normal States of Consciousness

• Nonconscious processes: biological processes/conditioning.

• Unconscious: emotions, motives, thoughts that influence our behavior but of which we are unaware.

• Preconscious: information which can be remembered if called upon/can become conscious.

• Subconscious: awareness at a primitive level but not conscious of it.  Hear baby cry when asleep and subliminal perception (visual).

• Conscious awareness: attentive and aware, automatization, and daydreaming.

(2) Altered States of Consciousness

• Sleep and Dream

  • Sleep: Two kinds of sleep REM and nREM. Describe a normal night from stages -Stage 1: REM: active, genital arousal, and somatic paralysis.  NREM: Stages 1-4.

  • Deprivation and Pathology: Insomnia, apnea (obstructive), narcolepsy, restless legs.

  • Dreams: Theories range from random neural activity that we apply meaning to (activation-synthesis) to expression from the unconscious (Freud and Jung). Note lucid dreams.

• Hypnosis

  • Defined as sustained focus and absorption

  • Behavior includes catalepsy, analgesia, amnesia, age regression, hallucinations

  • Applications include pain relief, habit control, performance, stress relief.

  • Meditation and Religious Experiences

    • Meditation.  Concentration (Hindu/Christian) and Insight (Buddhist).  Secular and spiritual uses.

    • Religious Experience, peak experience with a spiritual framework, may result in conversion.  associated with prayer and meditation, fasting, sleep deprivation, breath control, dance, drumming and drugs.

• Meditation and Religious Experiences

  • Meditation.  Concentration (Hindu/Christian) and Insight (Buddhist).  Secular and spiritual uses.

  • Religious Experience, peak experience with a spiritual framework, may result in conversion.  associated with prayer and meditation, fasting, sleep deprivation, breath control, dance, drumming and drugs.

•  Alcohol and Drugs (for more details see link to psychoactive drugs)

  • Terms:  use, abuse, physical dependence (tolerance and withdrawal), and psychological dependence.

  • Stimulants (Caffeine, nicotine,, amphetamines, cocaine)

  •  Depressants (alcohol, barbiturates, tranquilizers, opiates)

  •  Hallucinogens (Peyote, mescaline, LSD, PCP, marijuana)