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States of Conciousness (Psychological changes (Content limitations (In NWC…
States of Conciousness
What is consciousness?
The awareness of one's thoughts, feelings and perceptions (internal events) and our surroundings (external stimuli) at any gven moment
William James (1842-1910)
Coined the phrase "stream of consciousness" to describe how our level of consciousness changes over time. He said consciousness is: continuous; ever-changing; personal; selective; active
States of consciousness
Altered state of consciousness (ASC)
we are not in NWC; characterised by deviations in awareness, perceptions, thinking, self-control, emotions, and behaviours; the result of drugs or alcohol, sleeping and daydreaming, medication or psychosis
Naturally occuring
Sleep; dreaming; daydreaming
Normal waking consciousness (NWC)
Relatively organised; meaningful; clear; experienced when you are awake and aware
Induced
Alcohol induced; drug induced; hypnosis; meditation; anaesthetic
Meditation
An ASC which focuses on a single thought or stimulus to the exclusion of others. It results in heightened awareness and gives greater control to cognitive processes
A continuum of consciousness
Our consciousness fluctuates throughout the day - very alert sometimes, drowsy sometimes, daydreaming sometimes. There are two broad categories of consciousness -
normal waking consciousness (NWC)
and
altered state of consciousness (ASC)
A psychological construct
No practical way to measure consciousness objectively - we can, however, measure it's effects both subjectively and objectively. We can measure electrical signals in the brain during sleep (objective) or ask someone about their dreams (subjective)
Psychological changes
Content limitations
In NWC the content of our thinking is more limited than in ASC, where anything can happen. Some ASC result in more content control
Perceptual distortions
In NWC our perceptions are usually rational, but in ASC our senses can be distorted. Colours are brighter or pain is dulled
Supporting understanding: attention
Refers to where we are focusing our awareness at a pareticular time. Attention can be classified as:
selective attention
- we choose a specific focus;
selective inattention
- we choose to ignore a specific stimulus;
divided attention
- we can attend to more than one thing at a time
Cognitive distorions
In NWC our mental processes represent reality - thoughts are rational and clear. In ASC, thinking may be rational and illogical (problem solving, memory)
Controlled processing
Requires focused mental effort and attention; only one controlled process at a time
Emotional awareness
In NWC we are generally aware of and in control of our emotions. Emotions can be heightened or dulled in an ASC
Automatic processing
Requires little conscious awareness to complete a task; you can do two things at once
In NWC we have control over what we do and think. We are reserved in our behaviour. This control is usually reduced in an ASC
Level of awareness
Awareness in the ASC can be
greater or less
than NWC
Time orientation
In NWC we have a good awareness of passage of time. In ASC time may seem to move faster or slower than normal