Consciousness
Ch. 6
A) Consciousness: Awareness of one’s
self, what is going on in or outside itself.
(May be in past or present.) (A Construct)
1) Subconscious – when our brain/body acts
without us consciously “aware” of it.
Ex.1 Teacher comments on student behavior
are vague, but subtly directed at you (and you
begin to sense it) Ex. 2: ?(Your example)
** Youtube: Secrets of your subconscious mind
2) Unconscious – thoughts or acts about which we
cannot explain.
Ex. 1 Acts of jealousy in children; or knowledge
of trivia w/out understanding or remembering
how you know it.
B) Sleep – four stages
*Beta Waves – awake
(see diag.)
1) Alpha – small and
irregular waves; 10
minutes.
2) Sleep spindles
appear.
3) Beginning Delta.
Drifting into deeper
sleep.
4) Delta. Deep sleep,
restoration takes
place.
REM – rapid eye movement.
Characteristic during vivid, longer dreams.
Surreal memories. Also a restful
period…even paralysis exists.
 NREM – 75% of our sleep during this
stage.

Sleep needs – Babies – 12 hrs.
Teens – 8-9 hrs.
Adult/Middle – 7-8 hrs.
Seniors – 6-7 hrs.
C) Dreaming - why do we dream?
1)
2)
3)
4)
To process info picked up during the day, happens most during sleep.
To address unresolved issues – stress may
actually cause more REM sleep.
To “flush” out random events: Perhaps the
reason for weirdness of dreams. To refresh.
Questions:
Can we control dreams?
Ever been chased?
What if we die in dream?
Ever fallen?
What if we swim?
Are they warnings?
Do dreams actually come true?
D) Sleep Issues
1)
Needs – See previous
Less than 5 hrs over time results in shakes,
double vision, hallucinations.
A growing epidemic in the U.S. Why?
2) Problems –
a) Deprivation – lack of sleep due to external
forces. Examples: baby,
b) Nightmares – fairly common; may be due
to less REM. (REM rebound)
c) Night Terrors – found more in children. Vivid
experiences. During NREM. Shocks the
system.
d) Insomnia – lack of REM; drug/alcohol
connection.
e) Narcolepsy – instant REM, genetic and
rare. Dangerous. “Duece Bigelow”’
f) Sleep Apnea. Growing problem in the U.S.
Breathing stops. Obesity or high blood
pressure; more with age and men.
g) Hypnosis….a different level of
consciousness. Does it really work?
Purposes of – to uncover repressed
experiences and eventually resolve them.
Demo:
h) Meditation – also helps achieve a different
type of consciousness. Vehicles of: Yoga?
Prayer? Music? Demonstration: