Chapter 7 pt. 2: States of Consciousness

Hypnosis*Hypnosis: involves a state of

awareness characterized by deep relaxation, heightened suggestibility, and focused attention.

Hypnotist suggests changes in sensations, thoughts, behavior, and perceptions.

Hypnosis TheoriesState Theory (Unsupported by

Research)*:

The State Theory argues hypnosis reflects an altered state of consciousness where participants enter a trance-like level of consciousness whereby the hypnotist has control of the participant’s “subconscious.”

Hypnosis Theories: Based on Research

SOCIAL INFLUENCE THEORYHypnosis as a social phenomenon: argues that participants are doing what’s expected of them. Participants are just following a role of how one is supposed to act when hypnotized and it provides a socially acceptable reason to follow certain suggestions.

Argue pain relief from hypnosis is caused by normal shift/split in selective attention:

Ex: Pain not felt during soccer game.

Hypnosis Theories: Based on Research

Dissociation Theory blends social influence and state theories.

Hilgard argued hypnosis is caused by a social agreement that allowed dissociation: split in consciousness, which allows certain voluntary and involuntary behaviors to be controlled in part by a hypnotist.

Hilgard’s “Hidden Observer” Research Supports Dissociation Theory

• Hidden Observer: describes hypnotized subject’s awareness of experiences, such as pain, that go unreported during hypnosis. The “hidden observer” feels the pain so is associated with normal consciousness.

– Ex: Part of person feels the pain during ice water experiments.

Dissociation and Pain Studies

–Pain relief studies: theorists say pain stimulus is dissociated (split) from the emotional suffering of pain.

–But is there some part of the person that is feeling the pain? Yes according to “Hidden Observer”

Hypnosis

• Medical uses of hypnosis

Perspectives On Dissociation

Hypnosis Concepts: Can Hypnosis Have an Effect After

The Session?• Posthypnotic Amnesia: supposed

inability to recall what one experienced during hypnosis; induced by the hypnotist’s suggestion. “You will no longer remember anything you experienced today.”

• Posthypnotic Suggestion: a suggestion made during a hypnosis session that will be carried out after hypnosis session is over. “You will no longer feel the need to smoke after this session is over.”

Facts About Hypnosis• Unhypnotized people can do

and will do the same things as hypnotized people. Ex: throw acid in face.

• Those who are imaginative and fantasy prone are best hypnosis patients.

• No one can be hypnotized if they do not want to be.

Altered Consciousness and Drugs

• Psychoactive Drug: Any chemical substance that alters perceptions and mood. Impairs brain mechanisms that help us make good decisions.

• Three Basic Categories:– Depressants: “Downers” calm neural activity

and slow body functions. Includes opiates and barbiturates.

– Stimulants: “Uppers” excite neural activity

–Hallucinogens: distort perceptions and evoke sensory images in the absence of sensory input.

Why Do Drugs Get People “High?”• No matter what type of drug

from alcohol to cocaine, drugs work at the neurological level and at the brain’s synapses.

–Some drugs stimulate the release of certain neurotransmitters.–Others mimic the activity of

neurotransmitters (agonists)–Others inhibit the release of

neurotransmitters (antagonists)

• Mouse Party

Drugs and Impact on Your Body

• The most addictive drugs like heroin, cocaine, and amphetamines stimulate the reward centers in your brain making you feel a sense of euphoria.

Drugs and Social Expectations

• Drug experiences vary depending on the culture you are in.

• Often people act how they think they should act when on a certain drug.

• Ex: Alcohol belief studies.

Depressants• Alcohol: suppresses

parts of the brain that control judgment, inhibitions, and can seriously alter physical functioning in high doses (balance, memory, consciousness, death).

• Urges you feel when sober, you are more likely to act upon when drunk.

• Alcohol will increase any tendency you have whether it is harmful or helpful.

• It always acts a depressant, even if you only have one drink.

Depressants• Barbiturates:

depress CNS and reduce anxiety but impair memory and judgment.

• Ex: sleep aids, “special k,” benzodiapezines (xanax and valium), tranquilizers, etc.

Depressants• Opiates: opium and its

derivatives from poppy plant, depress neural activity, temporarily lessening pain and anxiety.

• Ex: morphine, heroin, opium.

• Opiates usually mimic endorphins; causes massive craving, withdrawal, and addiction because body stops producing its natural opiates.

Heroin Derived from Morphine in 1800s by Bayer Company

Stimulants

• Wide variety of substances fall under the category of stimulants including:–Caffeine–Nicotine–Amphetamines (“speed”) and methamphetamines (“crystal meth”)–Cocaine–MDMA (Ecstasy)

Stimulants• Speed up heart rate and

breathing rates, often use to keep awake, lose weight, or to boost mood.

• All stimulants can become highly addictive and often come with a “crash” when high is over with.

Stimulants• Cocaine: powerful stimulant usually

snorted or smoked that induces 15 to 30 minute “rush.” Crack produces even quicker and more intense high but lasts shorter period of time.

• Drug depletes the brain’s supply of dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine often causing depression. Also increases paranoia and increases risk of heart problems.

• May increase aggressive behaviors and causes extreme addiction.

StimulantsMethamphetamine: (crystal

meth, ice, speed). Causes large increases in alertness and may cause increase in energy and produce a euphoria.

Often leads to extreme addiction, insomnia, nervousness, or even seizures.

Hallucinogens Also Called Psychedelics

• Drugs create hallucinations, altered perceptions, and blur line between self and external world.

• Most well known hallucinogen is LSD: (lysergic acid diethylamine): probably most powerful hallucinogen.

• Other examples include: marijuana, peyote, angel dust, mescaline, and “magic mushrooms.”

Hallucinogens• Marijuana: consists of

flowers and leaves from the hemp plant and when smoked or ingested acts as a mild hallucinogen.

• Relaxes, disinhibits, and impairs motor functions of individuals while at the same time amplifying sensitivity to colors, sounds, tastes, and smells.

• Main active ingredient=THC

Hallucinogens• In recent years, Marijuana has also been

promoted for medical use. • Advocates say that marijuana serves as

relief for people suffering from intense pain, nausea, or that have trouble eating.

• Although the medical community is split on issue, most recognize the toxicity of the smoke is a definite drawback to using the drug medically.

• Marijuana also disrupts memory formation and may cause sexual dysfunctions.

General Concepts and Drugs

• Physical vs. Psychological Dependence

• Tolerance: diminishing effect of drug with the same dose, requires user to take more to get same high.

• Withdrawal: discomfort and distress associated with quitting the use of an addictive drug.

Influences on Drug Use• Perception of the risk involved with

a drug helps predict levels of use.

Influences on Drug Use

Also evidence that there may be biological influences in drug use. Examples:Identical twin with alcoholism other

twin has increased risk.Molecular geneticists have found gene

that is more common in people with alcoholism.

Influences on Drug Use

• Peer factor is perhaps most powerful.• Family strength, religiousness,

morality are near as big as predictors as whether or not peers use drugs. If your friends do drugs, odds are high that you may do them too.

• This is why many addicts have to change their social networks in order to remain drug free.

“What Drug Is It?” Activity