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 suggestionsome people are more susceptible to hypnotic

suggestion than otherspeople who are more responsive to hypnotic

suggestion tend to have a rich fantasy lifevirtually 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 usagefeeling that life is meaningless, hopelessness,

few skillssignificant stress, failure, depressionlarge 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 energyMotivates actionDirects energy towards goals