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CONSCIOUSNESS
Consciousness, modern psychologists believe, is an awareness of ourselves and our environment.
Forms of ConsciousnessB
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Selective Attention
Our conscious awareness processes only a small part of all that we
experience. We intuitively make use of the information we are not consciously
aware of.
Inattentional Blindness
Inattentional blindness refers to the inability to see an object or a person in our midst.
Simons & Chabris (1999) showed that half of the observers failed to see the gorilla-suited
assistant in a ball passing game.
Dan
iel S
imon
s, U
nive
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Ill
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Change Blindness
Change blindness is a form of inattentional blindness in which two-thirds of individuals giving directions failed to notice a change
in the individual asking for directions.
© 1998 Psychonomic Society Inc. Image provided courtesy of Daniel J. Simmons.
STATES OF CONSCIOUSNESSSLEEP and DREAMS
William Shakespeare1564 - 1616
Macbeth
“Sleep that knits up the ravelled sleave of careThe death of each day's life, sore labour's bath Balm of hurt minds, great nature's second course, Chief nourisher in life's feast.”
“If it is sleep that knits up the raveled sleeve of care, then an overwhelming number of Americans are walking around with distinctly tatty shirt cuffs.”Natalie Angiers, 1990
Biological Rhythms and Sleep
Circadian Rhythms occur on a 24-hour cycle and include sleep and wakefulness. Termed our
“biological clock,” it can be altered by artificial light.
Light triggers the suprachiasmatic nucleus located in the hypothalamus to decrease (morning) melatonin from the pineal gland and increase (evening) it at nightfall.
Measuring sleep: About every 90 minutes, we pass through a cycle of five distinct sleep
stages.
Sleep Stages
Hank Morgan/ Rainbow
Awake but Relaxed
When an individual closes his eyes but remains awake, his brain activity slows down to slower, regular alpha waves (8-12 cps). A meditating person exhibits
an alpha brain activity.
During early, light sleep (stages 1) the brain enters a slower, regular wave form called theta waves (4-7 cps). A person who is daydreaming shows
theta activity.
Sleep Stages 1-2
Theta Waves
During the second phase of light sleep (stage 2) the brainwave pattern shows theta waves and characteristic sleep
spindles and the K complex.
Sleep Stages 1-2
Theta Waves
During deepest sleep (stages 3-4), brain activity slows down. There are
large-amplitude, slow delta waves (1- 2 cps).
Sleep Stages 3-4
In stage 3, 20%-50% of the waves are delta; in stage 4, more than 50% are
delta waves.
Sleep Stages 3-4
Stage 5: REM Sleep
After reaching the deepest sleep stage (4), the sleep cycle starts moving
backward towards stage 1. Although still asleep, the brain engages in low-
amplitude, fast and regular beta waves (13-40 cps) much like the awake-
aroused state.
A person during this sleep exhibitsRapid Eye Movements (REM)
and reports vivid dreams.
90-Minute Cycles During Sleep
With each 90-minute cycle, stage 4 sleep decreases and the duration of REM sleep
increases increases. The last REM stage can last 30+ minutestage can last up to 30 minues
90-Minute Cycles During Sleep
For children, deep sleep comprises 40% of the sleep record; for adults,
only 25%.
90-Minute Cycles During Sleep
REM sleep represents about 25% of the sleep record in adults and older
children.
90-Minute Cycles During Sleep
Adults spend almost 60% of their sleep time in stages 1 & 2
Why do we sleep?• We spend on average
36% of our lives sleeping; in a 90 year old, that represents 32 years.
• On average, humans need 7 – 10 hours sleep.
• Newborns require 16
• Teens require 9 and get 5
• Adults require 7-8 hours and get 6.5
Jose Luis Pelaez, Inc./ C
orbis
If applied to the older population as a whole, at least 13 million Americans
are aware enough of their chronic sleep
deficiency to cite it as a source of misery.
During the 1990s, several healthsurveys of 21,000 people 65 years
and older found that more than 50%
reportedsleeping badly and feeling poorly
restedupon awakening.National Institute on Aging
Sleep Deprivation
1.Fatigue
1.Impaired concentration.
2.Emotional irritability.
3.Depressed immune system.
4.Greater incidence of accidents
5.Obesity
6.Mental illness
Sleep Deprivation
31 % of drivers report falling asleep at the wheel at least once
100,000 Americans /year die as a consequence
AccidentsFrequency of accidents increase with
loss of sleep
Why Do We Sleep?
http://www.radiolab.org/story/91528-sleep/ - Sleep
Sleep Theories1. Sleep Protects: Sleeping in the
darkness when predators loomed about kept our ancestors out of harm’s way.
2. Sleep Helps us Recover: Sleep helps restore and repair brain tissue.
3. Sleep Helps us Remember: Sleep restores and rebuilds our memories.
4. Sleep may play a role in the growth process: During sleep, the pituitary gland releases growth hormone. Older people release less of this hormone and sleep less.
Sleep Theories5. Immune System function
6. Insight and problem solving
7. Neural development and neural connectivity
8. Energy conservation
9. Planning, reasoning, creativity
1. Insomnia: A persistent inability to fall asleep.
2. Narcolepsy: Overpowering urge to fall asleep that may occur while talking or standing up.
3. Sleep apnea: Failure to breathe when asleep.
Sleep Disorders
Insomnia: A persistent inability to fall asleep.
Symptoms:1. Difficulty falling asleep2. Interrupted sleep3. Waking early
Sleep Disorders
Narcolepsy: a neurological disorder that affects the control of sleep. People experience intermittent, uncontrollable episodes of falling asleep during the daytime.
Sleep Disorders
Narcolepsy
Sleep Disorders
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvMyuZKGKAY - narcolepsy
Sleep Apnea: A sleep disorder in which a person’s breathing is interrupted during sleep. Types include: 1.obstructive sleep apnea, caused by a blockage of the airway2.Central sleep apnea in which the brain fails to signal the muscless to breathe
Sleep Disorders
Sleep Disorders
Children are most prone to:
Night terrors: The sudden arousal from sleep with intense fear accompanied by physiological reactions (e.g., rapid heart rate, perspiration) which occur during Stage 4 sleep.
Sleepwalking: A Stage 4 disorder which is usually harmless and unrecalled the next day.
Sleeptalking: A condition that runs in families, like sleepwalking.
Sleep Disorders
Dreams
The link between REM sleep and
dreaming has opened up a new era of dream
research.
The Biology of DreamingThe Biology of Dreaming
Neurobiologists and neuropsychiatrists tend to think of dreaming as shaped by the activation of brain neurons.
The activation synthesis model (Hobson and McCarley,1977) states that dreams are reactions to random nervous
system stimuli which the brain interprets as bizarreimages and other sensory hallucinations.
The Biology of DreamingThe Biology of Dreaming
Crick and Mitchison (1983) believe Crick and Mitchison (1983) believe that the brainthat the brain’’s neural memory s neural memory systems are easily overloaded and systems are easily overloaded and that REM eliminates cognitive that REM eliminates cognitive debris. Dreams are a mechanism for debris. Dreams are a mechanism for the nervous system to clear the brain the nervous system to clear the brain of unnecessary, even harmful of unnecessary, even harmful memories. Remembered dreams are memories. Remembered dreams are nothing more than an accidental by-nothing more than an accidental by-product of this REM functionproduct of this REM function.
The Biology of DreamingThe Biology of Dreaming
David Maurice, Ph.D. (1998), David Maurice, Ph.D. (1998), suggests that humans experience suggests that humans experience REM sleep to supply oxygen to the REM sleep to supply oxygen to the cornea of the eye. The aqueous cornea of the eye. The aqueous humor, the clear watery liquid in the humor, the clear watery liquid in the chamber just behind the cornea, chamber just behind the cornea, needs to be needs to be ““stirredstirred”” to bring oxygen to bring oxygen to the cornea. to the cornea. ““Without REM, our Without REM, our corneas would starve and suffocate corneas would starve and suffocate while we are asleep with our eyes while we are asleep with our eyes closedclosed..””
Why We Dream
Physiological Function: Dreams provide the sleeping brain with periodic stimulation to develop and preserve neural pathways. Neural networks of newborns are quickly developing; therefore, they need more sleep.
Why We Dream
All dream researchers believe we need REM sleep. When deprived of REM sleep and then allowed to sleep, we show increased REM sleep called REM Rebound.
The Psychoanalytic The Psychoanalytic ResponseResponse
One hundred years of One hundred years of psychoanalytic research and psychoanalytic research and experience show that there experience show that there is much that can be learned is much that can be learned about the mental and about the mental and emotional lives of people by emotional lives of people by dream interpretation and dream interpretation and other psychological methodsother psychological methods..
The Theoretical The Theoretical Controversy ContinuesControversy Continues
“Neither the classical psychoanalytic approach nor the physiologic attacks on it have been able to explain fully the purpose or function of dreaming.”
Ramon Greenberg, MD., Harvard Medical School
A Connection between the A Connection between the Physiological and the Physiological and the
PsychoanalyticPsychoanalytic
Allen Braun, M.D. has discovered that Allen Braun, M.D. has discovered that regions of the brain which control regions of the brain which control emotion and motivation are highly active emotion and motivation are highly active during REM sleep. during REM sleep.
Regions of the brain central to self-Regions of the brain central to self-discipline, delay of gratification, and discipline, delay of gratification, and impulse control, are relatively inactive. impulse control, are relatively inactive. Thus, the prefrontal cortex is unable to Thus, the prefrontal cortex is unable to carry out its waking task of censoring carry out its waking task of censoring material.material.
Is it possible the person who is the Is it possible the person who is the most inhibited when awake would have most inhibited when awake would have
the least active pre-frontal cortex the least active pre-frontal cortex when asleep? This would fit the model when asleep? This would fit the model of psychoanalysis, which suggests that of psychoanalysis, which suggests that
if you repress during the day, the if you repress during the day, the material will most likely comematerial will most likely come
oozing out during dreams.oozing out during dreams.
The Freudian ViewThe Freudian View
The dream represents an ongoing wish, along with the The dream represents an ongoing wish, along with the previous days activities. The dream may portray wishes previous days activities. The dream may portray wishes that have been with us since early childhood. Every that have been with us since early childhood. Every dream is partially motivated by a childhood wish. dream is partially motivated by a childhood wish. Dreams are derived from instinctual needs and personal Dreams are derived from instinctual needs and personal experiences. experiences.
The Freudian ViewThe Freudian View
Freud did not believe dream interpretation was possible by Freud did not believe dream interpretation was possible by the dreamer; dreams could only be interpreted by a trained the dreamer; dreams could only be interpreted by a trained psychoanalyst. A primary method for gathering information psychoanalyst. A primary method for gathering information about the meaning of the dream was through free association.about the meaning of the dream was through free association.
Manifest and Latent Manifest and Latent ContentContent
• The manifest dream is what the The manifest dream is what the dreamerdreamer’’s inner censor will permit to s inner censor will permit to float to the surface of awareness. float to the surface of awareness.
• The latent dream is the repressed The latent dream is the repressed wish. wish. ““One finds the child with his One finds the child with his impulses living on in the dream.impulses living on in the dream.”” (Freud) (Freud)
• Every dream exhibits a point of Every dream exhibits a point of contact with the events of the contact with the events of the previous day.previous day.
What We Dream
1. Negative Emotional Content: 8 out of 10 dreams have negative emotional content.
2. Failure Dreams: People commonly dream about failure, being attacked, pursued, rejected, or struck with misfortune.
3. Sexual Dreams: Contrary to our thinking, sexual dreams are sparse. Sexual dreams in men are 1 in 10; and in women 1 in 30.
Manifest Content: A Freudian term meaning the story line of dreams.
Freud and Dream SymbolsFreud and Dream Symbols
• Freud assigned only a marginal role Freud assigned only a marginal role to symbols. He warned against to symbols. He warned against
overestimating the significance of overestimating the significance of symbols for dream interpretation.symbols for dream interpretation.
Dream TheoriesSummary
Carl JungCarl Jung’’s Theorys TheoryJung believed in the Jung believed in the psychological psychological significance of dreams. significance of dreams. Like Freud, he viewed Like Freud, he viewed dreams as an importantdreams as an importantgateway to the unknown gateway to the unknown parts of the self. The parts of the self. The dream was a direct dream was a direct message from the message from the personal unconscious.personal unconscious.Carl
Jung1875-1961
Jungian AnalysisJungian AnalysisUnlike Freud, Jung believed the dreamer could Unlike Freud, Jung believed the dreamer could interpret his/her own dreams using a process interpret his/her own dreams using a process involving the analysis of dreams over time. He involving the analysis of dreams over time. He suggested taking similar dreams from the suggested taking similar dreams from the dream journal and merging the dream images dream journal and merging the dream images together to form a larger dream. together to form a larger dream.
In addition, Jung encouraged the dreamer to In addition, Jung encouraged the dreamer to brainstorm all the different symbolic brainstorm all the different symbolic associations for each aspect of the dream. associations for each aspect of the dream.
Another stage of Jungian dream analysis is Another stage of Jungian dream analysis is active imagination. The dreamer mentally active imagination. The dreamer mentally evokes a character from the dream and asks it evokes a character from the dream and asks it questions.questions.
Dream SymbolismDream Symbolism
• According to Jung, universal According to Jung, universal symbols are those rooted to the symbols are those rooted to the experience of all humankind and experience of all humankind and are, therefore, common to are, therefore, common to everyone.everyone.
• Jung considered the archetypes Jung considered the archetypes of the collective unconscious to of the collective unconscious to be universal symbolsbe universal symbols.
Fritz PerlsFritz Perls’’ Theory Theory
• According to Fritz Perls, dreams are According to Fritz Perls, dreams are seen as being projections of parts of seen as being projections of parts of oneself. Essentially, as the creator of oneself. Essentially, as the creator of the dream, you are everything in the the dream, you are everything in the dream. dream.
1893-1970
Dream analysis involves much dialogue Dream analysis involves much dialogue and and acting out. The dreamer is encouraged acting out. The dreamer is encouraged to act out to act out the dream from the perspective of each the dream from the perspective of each animate animate and inanimate element. All dream and inanimate element. All dream symbolismsymbolism is unique in that it comes from the is unique in that it comes from the dreamer, and dreamer, and only the dreamer can truly interpret it.only the dreamer can truly interpret it.
Common Universal SymbolsCommon Universal Symbols
House
The selfThe self
Weather
What one is going What one is going through in lifethrough in life
Water
The emotions, the unconscious, the The emotions, the unconscious, the source of all life. source of all life. Type of water and movement of water Type of water and movement of water give clues about what is happening in the give clues about what is happening in the feelings and the unconscious.feelings and the unconscious.
Time of day
The time of oneThe time of one’’s life or ones life or one’’s state s state of being. of being. (Dawn: youth, optimism; dusk: (Dawn: youth, optimism; dusk: withdrawal, approachingwithdrawal, approaching death)death)
People known to youPeople known to you
a particular quality of a particular quality of yourselfyourself
StrangerStrangerss
Qualities of yourself that you Qualities of yourself that you do not owndo not own
AnimalAnimalss
Compulsive or habitual ways of thinking and actingCompulsive or habitual ways of thinking and acting
DeathDeath
ChangeChange
Black horseBlack horse
Refusal to exercise free Refusal to exercise free willwill
VehiclesVehicles
Information about your Information about your physical bodyphysical body
ShoesShoes
Your mental or spiritual Your mental or spiritual foundationfoundation
ClothingClothing
OneOne’’s outer s outer expressionexpression
Naked Naked
You have opened up in your waking You have opened up in your waking life or let the walls down. Represents life or let the walls down. Represents a desire to communicate more deeply a desire to communicate more deeply
with otherswith others
FlyingFlying
Exercising free Exercising free choicechoice
Running away and finding your feet and legs Running away and finding your feet and legs are moving, but you are not moving forwardare moving, but you are not moving forward
Trying to do too many things at once and never seeming to get ahead.Trying to do too many things at once and never seeming to get ahead.
Silly Dream Symbols
Alligator: treacheryAlligator: treachery
Animals: your own physical Animals: your own physical characteristics, primitive desires,characteristics, primitive desires,and sexual nature; the untamed and uncivilized aspects of and sexual nature; the untamed and uncivilized aspects of self. self.
Crocodile: hidden dangerCrocodile: hidden danger
Dog: skill that you have ignored orDog: skill that you have ignored orforgotten. Also might mean intuition, loyalty fidelity. forgotten. Also might mean intuition, loyalty fidelity.
Eel: issues with commitmentEel: issues with commitment..
Dream Symbol DictionariesDream Symbol Dictionaries
• Even universal meaning and generalized Even universal meaning and generalized definitions are of minimal value in definitions are of minimal value in relation to self-understanding and relation to self-understanding and personal growth. personal growth.
• Only through discovering oneOnly through discovering one’’s own s own translations of symbols and images can translations of symbols and images can the individual effect change or insight. the individual effect change or insight.
• Symbols change meaning according to Symbols change meaning according to the context in which they appear and the context in which they appear and the personal experiences of the dreamerthe personal experiences of the dreamer
Personal SymbolsPersonal Symbols
• Personal symbols are formed in the Personal symbols are formed in the unconscious and are tailored to unconscious and are tailored to reflect the personreflect the person’’s life experience s life experience and emotion. The unconscious is able and emotion. The unconscious is able to create a symbol to illustrate a to create a symbol to illustrate a particular inner message. particular inner message.
• Understanding personal symbols is Understanding personal symbols is one of the primary goals of dream one of the primary goals of dream work.work.
Dream analysis involves much dialogue and acting out. Dream analysis involves much dialogue and acting out. The dreamer is encouraged to act out the dream from theThe dreamer is encouraged to act out the dream from the perspective of each animate and inanimate element. perspective of each animate and inanimate element. All dream symbolism is unique in that it comes from All dream symbolism is unique in that it comes from the dreamer, and only the dreamer can truly interpret it.the dreamer, and only the dreamer can truly interpret it.
Completing the Plot: Completing the Plot: another method of another method of
interpretationinterpretation• The dreamer rewrites the ending or The dreamer rewrites the ending or
completes the plot of his/her dream in completes the plot of his/her dream in a waking state. Learning to take a waking state. Learning to take control and create positive options in control and create positive options in your dream life enhances your ability your dream life enhances your ability to do that in your waking life.to do that in your waking life.
Helpful Hints for Better Helpful Hints for Better Dream RecallDream Recall
• Before going to sleepBefore going to sleep– Expect to remember your dreamsExpect to remember your dreams– Review past dreamsReview past dreams– Get ready to record your dreamsGet ready to record your dreams– Be prepared to stay awake to make a recordBe prepared to stay awake to make a record– Review the previous day back to morningReview the previous day back to morningUpon wakingUpon waking– Follow your dream backwardsFollow your dream backwards– Try and remember all the dreams you canTry and remember all the dreams you can– Think of events that may have triggered Think of events that may have triggered
dreamsdreams– Write it downWrite it down
Dream RecallDream Recall
• Daily AttitudesDaily Attitudes– Value each dreamValue each dream– Accept all dreamsAccept all dreams– Approach recall as a skillApproach recall as a skill– Expect to recall dreams during the Expect to recall dreams during the
dayday
Procedures for RecallProcedures for Recall
• Keep a pad of paper and pen beside Keep a pad of paper and pen beside your bed. Date the paper. When you your bed. Date the paper. When you awaken, write something down.awaken, write something down.
• When you go to bed, relax your body When you go to bed, relax your body and review the day in reverse. and review the day in reverse.
• As you are getting close to falling As you are getting close to falling asleep, repeat over and over, asleep, repeat over and over, ““When I When I wake up, I will remember my dream.wake up, I will remember my dream.””
• When you wake in the morning, donWhen you wake in the morning, don’’t t move. Relax and let your mind drift move. Relax and let your mind drift close to the dream. close to the dream.
• Once you begin to recall the dream, Once you begin to recall the dream, start writing. start writing.
How to Begin Your Own How to Begin Your Own InterpretationInterpretation
• What are the unusual or personally What are the unusual or personally significant images in your dreams?significant images in your dreams?
• What are the primary emotions in your What are the primary emotions in your dreams?dreams?
• What are the conflicts and/or unresolved What are the conflicts and/or unresolved issues in the dream?issues in the dream?
• What is currently happening in your What is currently happening in your conscious, waking life?conscious, waking life?
• Are there any associations between your Are there any associations between your conscious life and your dreams? Explore.conscious life and your dreams? Explore.
• Do any common patterns or themes exist Do any common patterns or themes exist in the dreams that could tie them in the dreams that could tie them together? What are they?together? What are they?
•How are you acting in the dream?How are you acting in the dream?•What are the different feelings in What are the different feelings in this dream?this dream?•What are the major actions in this What are the major actions in this dream?dream?•Who or what is the adversary in Who or what is the adversary in this dream?this dream?•What or who is helping in this What or who is helping in this dream?dream?•What would I like to avoid in this What would I like to avoid in this dream?dream?•What actions might this dream be What actions might this dream be suggesting?suggesting?•What does this dream want from What does this dream want from me?me?•Why did I need this dream?Why did I need this dream?
Lucid DreamingLucid Dreaming
• When you feel yourself awakening, try to When you feel yourself awakening, try to focus your thoughts on the last dream you focus your thoughts on the last dream you were having. Recall details, feeling, were having. Recall details, feeling, experiences. Then spend ten to fifteen experiences. Then spend ten to fifteen minutes reading, meditating, or doing minutes reading, meditating, or doing something that requires full wakefulness. something that requires full wakefulness. Then while lying in bed, say to yourself: the Then while lying in bed, say to yourself: the next time I dream, I want to recognize that next time I dream, I want to recognize that II ’’m dreaming.m dreaming.”” Visualize your body lying in Visualize your body lying in bed, sleeping. See yourself back in your last bed, sleeping. See yourself back in your last dream, but know that you are dreaming. dream, but know that you are dreaming.
• Once in the lucid dream, recognize that you Once in the lucid dream, recognize that you control the dream.control the dream.
Prophetic DreamsProphetic Dreams
• Seventy years ago, Harvard Seventy years ago, Harvard psychologists Murray and Wheeler psychologists Murray and Wheeler tested the prophetic power of dreams. tested the prophetic power of dreams. They invited the public to report They invited the public to report dreams about the kidnapping of dreams about the kidnapping of Charles LindberghCharles Lindbergh’’s baby. s baby.
• 1300 people responded: 5% 1300 people responded: 5% envisioned that the child was deadenvisioned that the child was dead
• 4 of the 1300 anticipated the location 4 of the 1300 anticipated the location of the dead childof the dead child.
Prophecy?Prophecy?
• In 1990In 1990’’s tabloid psychics missed the big s tabloid psychics missed the big events of Oklahoma, 9/11. 65% of police events of Oklahoma, 9/11. 65% of police departments never use psychics. Of departments never use psychics. Of those who had hired psychics, none found those who had hired psychics, none found the information useful.the information useful.
• We tend to notice, interpret, and recall We tend to notice, interpret, and recall events that confirm our expectations. events that confirm our expectations. Weird coincidences capture our attention Weird coincidences capture our attention and are available in memory. All the and are available in memory. All the nonevents are unnoticed and not nonevents are unnoticed and not remembered.remembered.
Whatever. . . .
Bad Dream
Sweet Dream
Get some sleep
Why We Dream
1. Wish Fulfillment: Sigmund Freud suggested that dreams provide a psychic safety valve to discharge unacceptable feelings. The dream’s manifest (apparent) content may also have symbolic meanings (latent content) that signify our unacceptable feelings.
2. Information Processing: Dreams may help sift, sort, and fix a day’s experiences in our memories.
Hypnosis
Hypnos: Greek god of sleep
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A social interaction in which one person
(the hypnotist) suggests to another (the subject) that
certain perceptions, feelings, thoughts, or behaviors will spontaneously
occur.
Facts and Falsehood
Those who practice hypnosis agree that its power resides in the subject’s openness to suggestion.
Can anyone experience hypnosis? Yes, to some extent.
Can hypnosis enhance recall of forgotten events?
No.
Facts and Falsehood
Can hypnosis be therapeutic?Yes. Self-suggestion
can heal too.
Can hypnosis alleviate pain?Yes. Lamaze can
do that too.
Can hypnosis force people to act against their will?
No.
Explaining the Hypnotized State
1.Social Influence Theory: Hypnotic subjects may simply be imaginative actors playing a social role.
2.Divided Consciousness Theory: Hypnosis is a special state of dissociated (divided) consciousness (Hilgard, 1986, 1992).
(Hilgard, 1992)
Courtesy of N
ews and Publications Service, Stanford U
niversity
Both Theories
Mim
i For
syth
Drugs and Consciousness
Psychoactive Drug: A chemical substance that alters perceptions and mood (affects
consciousness).
Dependence & Addiction
Continued use of a psychoactive drug
produces tolerance. With repeated
exposure to a drug, the drug’s effect lessens. Thus it takes greater
quantities to get the desired effect.
Withdrawal & Dependence
1. Withdrawal: Upon stopping use of a drug (after addiction), users may experience the undesirable effects of withdrawal.
2. Dependence: Absence of a drug may lead to a feeling of physical pain, intense cravings (physical dependence), and negative emotions (psychological dependence).
Misconceptions About Addiction
1. Addictive drugs quickly corrupt.
2. Addiction cannot be overcome voluntarily.
3. Addiction is no different than repetitive pleasure-seeking behaviors.
Addiction is a craving for a chemical substance, despite its adverse
consequences (physical & psychological).
Psychoactive Drugs
Psychoactive drugs are divided into three groups.
1. Depressants
2. Stimulants3. Hallucinog
ens
Depressants
Depressants are drugs that reduce neural activity and slow body functions. They include:
1. Alcohol 2. Barbitur
ates3. Opiates
Depressants
1. Alcohol affects motor skills, judgment, and memory…and increases aggressiveness while reducing self awareness.
Drinking and Driving
Daniel H
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Depressants
2. Barbiturates: Drugs that depress the activity of the central nervous system, reducing anxiety but impairing memory and judgment. Nembutal, Seconal, and Amytal are some examples.
Depressants
3. Opiates: Opium and its derivatives (morphine and heroin) depress neural activity, temporarily lessening pain and anxiety. They are highly addictive.
http://opioids.com/tim
eline
StimulantsStimulants are drugs that excite neural activity and speed up body functions. Examples of stimulants are:
1. Caffeine 2. Nicotine3. Cocaine4. Ecstasy5. Amphetamines6. Methamphetamines
CocaineCocaine induces immediate euphoria followed
by a crash. Crack, a form of cocaine, can be smoked. Other forms of cocaine can be sniffed
or injected.
http://ww
w.ohsinc.com
Ecstasy
Ecstasy or Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is a
stimulant and mild hallucinogen. It produces a euphoric high and can
damage serotonin-producing neurons, which results in a
permanent deflation of mood and impairment of
memory.
Hallucinogens
Hallucinogens are psychedelic (mind-manifesting) drugs
that distort perceptions and
evoke sensory images in the absence of
sensory input.
Ronald K
. Siegel
Hallucinogens
1. LSD: (lysergic acid diethylamide) powerful hallucinogenic drug that is also known as acid.
2. THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol): is the major active ingredient in marijuana (hemp plant) that triggers a variety of effects, including mild hallucinations.
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Hemp Plant
After a close brush with death, many people report an
experience of moving through a dark
tunnel with a light at the end. Under the
influence of hallucinogens, others report bright lights
at the center of their field of vision.
Near-Death Experiences(From
“Hallucinations” by R
.K. Siegel. C
opyright ©
1977 Scientific Am
erican, Inc. All rights reserved.)
