Warm Up-9
1. According to Freud why do we dream?
 2. How do dreams help us grow
cognitively?
 3. In your own words, what is the
Activation-Syntheses theory?
 4. Can hypnosis alleviate pain?
 5. Can anyone be hypnotized? Why or
Why not?
 6. In your own words explain Hilgard’s
Hidden Observer
 7. What is Posthypnotic Amnesia?
 8. What is Posthypnotic Suggestion?

Altered Consciousness and Drugs
 Psychoactive
Drug: Any chemical
substance that alters perceptions and
mood.
 Three Basic Categories:
 Depressants: “Downers” calm neural
activity and slow body functions
 Stimulants: “Uppers” excite neural
activity
 Hallucinogens: distort perceptions
and evoke sensory images in the
absence of sensory input.
Why Do Drugs Mess People Up?

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)
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.

Depressants
 Barbiturates:
depress CNS and
reduce anxiety but
impair memory and
judgment.
 Ex: sleep aids,
valium, “special k,”
tranquilizers, etc.
Depressants
 Opiates:
opium and its
derivatives, depress neural
activity, temporarily lessening
pain and anxiety.
 Ex: morphine, heroin, opium.
 Opiates usually mimic
endorphins; causes massive
craving and addiction because
body stops producing its
natural opiates.
Stimulants
 Wide
variety of substances fall under the
category of stimulants including:
 Caffeine
 Nicotine
 Amphetamines (“speed”)
 Cocaine
 MDMA (Ecstacy)
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.

Stimulants
 Methamphetamine:
(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: are
drugs that produce false and
heightened sensory experiences.
 Most well known hallucinogen is
LSD: (lysergic acid
diethylamine): probably most
powerful hallucinogen.
 Other examples include:
marijuana, peyote, 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.
Couple 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.
 Why many addicts have to change their
social networks in order to remain drug
free.
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