Top Ten Myths About Consciousness

1. Hypnosis is a unique “trance” state that differs in kind from wakefulness.

2. Researchers have demonstrated that dreams possess symbolic meaning.

3. During “out-of-body” experiences people’s consciousness leaves their bodies.

4. Relaxation is necessary for hypnosis to occur.

5. People have no memory for what took place while hypnotized.

6. Sleeping pills are a good long term treatment for insomnia.

7. People only dream in black and white.

8.. Most sleep walkers are acting out their dreams; most sleeptalkers are verbalizing them.

9. If we dream that we die, we actually die.

10. Transcendental meditation is a uniquely effective means of achieving relaxation.

Waking States of Consciousness

• Alpha

• Beta

Stages of Sleep

• NREM -1

• NREM -2

• NREM -3

• REM

Dream Theories

• Freud (manifest and latent content)

• Jung (collective unconscious and archetypes)

• Dreams as Solutions

• Activation – Synthesis

Characteristics of the Hypnotic State

• The Subject Ceases to Make Plans

• Attention is Redistributed

• Reality Distortion is Readily Accepted

• The Hypnotized Subject Readily Enacts Unusual Roles

• Posthypnotic Amnesia is Often Present

Characteristics of Hypnotized Subjects

• Openness to Experience

• Creating Vivid Images

• Absorption

Two Steps in Meditation

• Subject Clears Mind

• Subject Attends to Stimulus (concentrative - mantra, opening-up, mindfulness)

Alcohol

• Depressant

• Stumble and Slur

• Poor Judgment

• Physiologically Addictive

• Withdrawal Symptoms

Amphetamines

• Benzedrine, Dexedrine, Methedrine

• Stimulants

• Dulls Appetite

• Increases Energy

• Speed Freak – Amphetamine Psychosis

Marijuana

• Hallucinogen

• Euphoria

• Affects Complex Behaviors

• Doesn’t Affect Simple Behaviors

• May Cause Panic Reactions in Large Doses

Heroin

• Narcotic

• Orgasm of the Whole Body

• Nausea

• Sexual Interest Declines

• Physiologically Addictive

• Withdrawal Symptoms