States of consciousness
Download
Report
Transcript States of consciousness
States of consciousness Part 2
Goals of the day
hypnosis
drugs and consciousness
flow
What is hypnosis?
The common perception of hypnosis is that it is
a trance-like, socially induced altered state of
consciousness)
Is it really an altered state of consciousness?
Does it work? Would you undergo hypnosis
rather than Novocain to deaden pain before
getting a cavity filled or during child birth?
Hypnosis is . . .
a social interaction in which one person
suggests to another that certain
perceptions, feelings, thoughts, or
behaviors will spontaneously occur
posthypnotic amnesia: a temporary
memory loss (you forget what happened to
you when you were under hypnosis)
Some basic facts about hypnosis
Can it work for anyone?
no, the power of hypnosis resides in subjects
openness to suggestion
some people are more susceptible to hypnotic
suggestion than others
people who are more responsive to hypnotic
suggestion tend to have a rich fantasy life
virtually anyone will experience hypnotic
responsiveness of led to expect it (“your eyes are
getting heavy”--everyone’s eyes do when they
stare a light)
Can it enhance recall of forgotten events?
no, it cannot change the rules by which we form,
store, and retrieve memories
Can hypnosis force people to act against their will?
it can only induce behavior well within normal limits
Can hypnosis be therapeutic?
no. the "benefits" of hypnosis are not due to
hypnosis (e.g., rather due to having people relax and
form positive images)
Is Hypnosis an altered state of
consciousness?
Social influence theory says: no
“hypnotized" people are just acting the role
of "good hypnotic subjects”
doing what's expected, and getting caught
up in the role: imaginative actors caught up
in playing the role of hypnotic subject
Divided consciousness theory says: yes
dissociated consciousness (mind split; talking on phone while
doing dishes)
accentuated form on normal cognitive dissociation
pain reduction
• concentrate on something else (how to stop your head
from hurting, put a pebble in your shoe)
• Lamaze method of childbirth: breathing and
concentration techniques that draw attention away from
pain
• TV sets in dentist's office or in grocery store check out
lines
Drugs and consciousness
Psychoactive drugs: chemicals that change perceptions
and moods
legal drugs: caffeine, tobacco, tranquilizers, diet
pills, sleeping pills, alcohol
illegal: heroin, cocaine, etc., etc.
Psychoactive drugs produce:
tolerance
withdrawal
physical dependence
psychological dependence
Why do many people like
the effects drugs produce?
mismatch between our ancient brain mechanisms
(that evolved 1000s and millions of years ago)
most drugs of abuse act on neural mechanisms
associated with positive emotions that evolved to
mediate incentive behavior (food, sex): dopamine,
serotonin, and norepinephirne
drugs create a signal in the brain that indicates,
falsely, the arrival of a fitness benefit (just like we like
high fat, sugar, salt foods--junk food)
Disease or bad habit?
By viewing it as a disease, addicts tend to
feel powerless to overcome the addiction
Bad habit: many people can stop using
drugs without professional help
Social factors and drug use
drug's psychological effects are powerfully
influenced by the user's expectations
social factors influencing drug usage
feeling that life is meaningless, hopelessness, few
skills
significant stress, failure, depression
large influence of peer group
• peer association is strongest predictor of adolescent
drug use
Flow
Conscious experiences are in harmony
with one another
The sense of effortless action that people
have during exceptional moments in life,
“peak experiences”
Functions of flow
Focuses psychological energy
Motivates action
Directs energy towards goals