FREUD’S LEVELS OF CONSCIOUSNESS

• Unconscious level: selfish needs, irrational wishes, immoral urges, fears, violent motives, unacceptable desires, shameful experiences

• Preconscious level: memories, stored knowledge

• Conscious level: perceptions, thoughts

ALTERED STATES OF CONSCIOUSNESS

• A type of consciousness other than normal waking consciousness

1. Sleep2. Meditation3. Dreams4. Drugs5. Hypnosis

SLEEP

• Circadian Rhythms: regular sequence of biological processes, such as temperature and sleep, that occurs every 24 hours

• Temperature falls to its lowest point between 3am and 5am

STAGES OF SLEEP

• Beta Waves: short and quick (awake)

• Alpha Waves: slower (relax and drowsy)

• Stage 1: lightest sleep; brain waves slow down from alpha to theta; brief dreamlike images; 5-10 minutes

• Stage 2: muscle spasms; body is preparing to enter deep sleep

STAGES OF SLEEP

• Stages 3 & 4: sleep is deep and the brain produces delta waves (slowest)

• Non-REM sleep: stages 1-4; lasts from 90-120 minutes

• 1-2-3-4-3-2-1-REM• REM sleep: begin to breathe more regularly,

blood pressure rises, heart beats faster– Heightened cerebral activity = dreams

DREAMS

• According to Freud, dreams reflect a person’s unconscious wishes and urges; and people dream in symbols

• Most vivid dreams occur during REM

• During NREM, dreams are less likely to have clear imagery and plots that make sense

INSOMNIA

• Difficulty falling asleep• No problem falling asleep, but difficulty

staying asleep• Waking up too early• Transient Insomnia: lasting a few nights• Short-term Insomnia: 2 or 4 weeks• Chronic Insomnia: lasting a month or

longer (depression)

NIGHTMARES VS. NIGHT TERRORS

• Upsetting events, anxiety and depression can cause nightmares

• Night terrors are more severe and include heart racing, talking incoherently, thrashing about, sitting up in bed

• Night terrors occur during stages 3 and 4 while nightmares occur during REM

OTHER SLEEP DISORDERS

• Sleep Apnea: breathing interruption; usually accompanied with snoring

• Narcolepsy: suddenly fall asleep no matter what time it is or where they are

• Sleepwalking: brain waves combine awake and deep sleep– Caused by stress and substance abuse in adults– Amnesia usually follows episode – Difficult to arouse patient during episode