Introduction to consciousness

Introduction to ConsciousnessChapter 5

Many students find this to be their favorite chapter, specifically dreams, hypnosis, and meditation. These happen to be the topics with far less research available than most of the topics in your text.

At least partly because of that, many psychologists find these to be the least interesting topics...

Why don’t psychologists love this stuff?•Consciousness is extremely hard to study

systematically.

Why don’t psychologists love this stuff?•Consciousness has not been easy to pin

down neurologically. It appears to be an emergent phenomenon.

Why don’t psychologists love this stuff?

•The quality of published research has been low, leaving scientists with unanswered questions.

Why do students love this stuff?

The ideas are pretty cool…

Why do students love this stuff?• Are the “secrets of who we are” being unlocked during

dreams?

• Are dreams windows into another realm of consciousness?

• Can we be controlled by hypnosis?

• Can we unlock new abilities with hypnosis?

• Can we control our body and health with meditation?

• Can we reach new states of spiritual being through meditation?

Why do students love this stuff?

This is the chapter that seems almost magical…

The ideas can leave you with shivers down your spine…

But science has no room for magic.

Something “magical” is supernatural, mysterious.

Supernatural means beyond nature, or outside of what is natural.

The whole point of science is to find explanations, to identify how the natural

world works, and to remove mysteries where we can.

How to approach this chapter like a psychologist

• Hold a healthy skepticism toward mystical explanations

• Extraordinary claims need extraordinary evidence

• Recognize your emotions toward topics and how they may color the opinions you form

• Don’t think about science as “loosing the mystery.” Think about it as “gaining insight and knowledge.”

DreamsThey’re not that big a deal.

Freud’s Legacy

•It is hard to overstate how much Sigmund Freud influenced our culture.

•Dream interpretation is one of the ideas that has taken on a life of its own.

Do you believe that there is “more than meets the eye” in your dreams?

Do you feel a need to figure out “the rest of the story?”

Freud’s Legacy

Then you’ve been influence by Freud’s ideas.

Current Understanding of Dreams

Many students may be surprised that those common beliefs about dreams are not how most psychologists view them.

Current Understanding of Dreams

Good News!

Not all dreams require interpretation

Current Understanding of DreamsSome dreams are nonsense

Random thoughts

Day residue

Current Understanding of DreamsDreams that have meaning are probably best interpreted by you, the dreamer.

You have more experience of your past, your thoughts, and your desires, than anyone else.

If you wake up with a feeling that your dream was meaningful, then it probably is. You probably already have a good idea of what that meaning is.

HypnosisWhat’s real? What’s bull?

Hypnosis Is Real, probably…

•HOWEVER, not all events that are called “hypnosis” are actually altered states of consciousness.

•For some hypnotic phenomena, the evidence supports that hypnosis creates an altered state of consciousness.

•Others are easily explained as role-playing.

Most Stage Hypnosis is Probably Not Real

Think of how powerful a “get out of jail free” card can be.

What if you had a really good excuse to get away with doing whatever the stage hypnotist tells you to do?

Most of us know the “role” of “hypnotized person.”

Imagine that you are on stage, looking out at a room full of eyes watching you, all eagerly waiting to see you do what the hypnotist says.

Would you play along?

Hypnosis does not work for everyone

10% of people can’t be hypnotized

10% of people are easily hypnotized

The rest of us fall somewhere in between

MeditationUnique state of consciousness or just deep relaxation?

Still Looking

•Meditation research is difficult.

•Some studies suggest a unique state, but others do not.

•Recent scanning studies with Buddhist monks have shown some interesting brain activity compared to novice meditators.

Summary

1. Consciousness is difficult to research.

2. Approach Topics Like a psychologist

• Hold a healthy skepticism toward mystical explanations

• Extraordinary claims need extraordinary evidence

• Recognize your emotions toward topics and how they may color the opinions you form

• Don’t think about science as “loosing the mystery.” Think about it as “gaining insight and knowledge.”

3. Focus on learning what is real and what is not real. Enjoy your reading.