Consciousness as a continuum and differences between NWC and ASC - correct answer - consciousness as a psychological construct that varies along a continuum, broadly categorised into normal waking consciousness and altered states of consciousness (naturally occurring and induced)
- changes in a person's psychological state due to levels of awareness, controlled and automatic processes, content limitations, perceptual and cognitive distortions, emotional awareness, self-control and time orientation
States of consciousness - correct answer CONSCIOUSNESS: our awareness of objects and events in the external world and of our internal experiences at any given moment BETTER DEF: Consciousness is the selective, personal, active, continuous and everchanging level of awareness of both internal and external stimuli
These different degrees or level of awareness of our internal state and external events are referred to as states of consciousness
Consciousness is a psychological hypothetical construct because it is a phenomena that we believe exists but cannot be directly observed or measured You can experience variations in the degree of awareness you have at different times
Stream of consciousness - correct answer William James investigated humans and consciousness - viewed it as ever-changing series of thoughts (and feelings) that shift smoothly from one moment to another (like water) Creates CONCEPT OF CONSCIOUSNESS selective, personal, active, continuous and ever changing SELECTIVE: because we focus on some things and don't attend to others (internal and external) PERSONAL: because we all have different thoughts ACTIVE: because it interacts with our environment and with own our ideas CONTINUOUS: because our mind is never empty and ideas flow through but don't just stop EVER-CHANGING: shifts and alters all the time
Normal Waking Consciousness - correct answer NWC refers to the states of consciousness associated with being awake and aware of objects and events in the external world as well as internally - our thoughts and perceptions are organised, logical and clear
Altered States of consciousness - correct answer ASC is used to describe any state of consciousness that is distinctly different from normal waking consciousness, in terms of: - level of awareness and experience - quality or intensity of sensations, perceptions, thoughts, feelings, memories that are experiences NATURALLY OCCURRING - sleep and dreaming Purposely induced - meditation, hypnosis or certain drugs