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 Theories
State 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 THEORY
Hypnosis 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 role
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
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.
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

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.
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.