States of consciousness Part 2

1
States of consciousness - Part 2

• Goals of the day
• hypnosis
• drugs and consciousness
• flow

2
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?

3
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)

4
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--everyones eyes do when they
  stare a light)

5

• 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)

6
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

7

• 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

8
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

9
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)

10
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

11
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

12
Flow

• Conscious experiences are in harmony with one
  another
• The sense of effortless action that people have
  during exceptional moments in life, peak
  experiences

13
Functions of flow

• Focuses psychological energy
• Motivates action
• Directs energy towards goals