Chapter 5 Consciousness

1. Chapter 5Consciousness

2. Section 1: The Study of Consciousness • In 1904, William James wrote an article called “Does Consciousness Exist?” • James questioned the value of studying consciousness because he could not think of a scientific way to observe or measure another person’s consciousness.

3. John Watson, the founder of Behaviorism, agreed with William James. • In 1913 Watson wrote an article called “Psychology as the Behaviorist Views It.” • Watson, like James, questioned whether consciousness could be studied scientifically.

4. Consciousness as a Construct • Today many psychologists believe that consciousness can be studied because it can be linked with measurable behaviors such as talking and brain waves.

5. Consciousness is a psychological construct. • A construct is a concept used to talk about something we cannot see, touch, or measure directly.

6. Along with consciousness, intelligence and emotion are also psychological constructs.

7. Meaning of Consciousness • Generally speaking, consciousness means awareness. • There is more than one type of awareness. • 1. sensory awareness • 2. direct inner awareness • 3. sense of self that each person experiences

8. Consciousness as Sensory Awarness • Your senses make it possible for you to be aware of your environment. • If you do not pay attention to your surroundings, you can be unaware of sensory stimulation. • We tend to be more conscious of some things than others. • Intense stimuli usually gets our attention.

9. Consciousness as Direct Inner Awarness • You are conscious of a memory through what psychologists call direct inner awareness. • You do not hear, see, smell, or touch thoughts, but you are still consciousness of them. • Consciousness, then, is being aware of things inside yourself.

10. Consciousness as Sense of Self • People have a sense of self, no matter how much they or the world around them might change. • Consciousness is the sense of self in which we are aware of ourselves and our existence.

11. Levels of Consciousness • Other levels of consciousness include… • Precociousness • Unconsciousness • Nonconsciousness

12. The Preconscious Level • Ideas not in your awareness right now, but you could recall them if you had to.

13. The Unconscious Level • (sometimes called the subconscious) • Unavailable to awareness under most circumstances (the information is hidden) • Freud believed that certain memories are painful and that some of our impulses, such as aggressiveness, are considered unacceptable.

14. We use various mental strategies, called defense mechanisms, to push painful or unacceptable ideas out of our consciousness. • We protect ourselves from feelings of anxiety, guilt, and shame.

15. The Nonconscious Level • Many exist on a biological level. • You could not sense the pupils in your eyes adjusting to light.

16. Altered States of Consciousness • The word consciousness sometimes refers to the waking state.

17. There are also several altered states of consciousness, in which a person’s sense of self or sense of the world changes.

18. Sleep is one altered state of consciousness. • Under the influence of drugs. • Other altered states of consciousness occur through meditation, biofeedback, and hypnosis.