What Other Forms Can Consciousness Take An altered

What Other Forms Can Consciousness Take? • Hypnosis • Meditation • Psychoactive drug states

Hypnosis • Hypnosis • An induced state of altered awareness, characterized by heightened suggestibility

Is Hypnosis … 1. a distinct state of consciousness? 2. simply heightened motivation? People

Hilgard’s Hidden Observer Theory • • Hypnosis is a dissociated state involving a “hidden

• In one experiment conducted by the Hilgards, subjects were hypnotized and told

Hypnosis As an Altered State • Experts disagree about whether hypnosis involves – A

Practical Uses for Hypnosis Researchers Psychological treatment Medical and dental treatment Hypnotic analgesia –

Meditation • A form of consciousness change induced by focusing on a repetitive behavior,

As an altered state of consciousness…that may be a western world view Buddhism teaches

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What Other Forms Can Consciousness Take? An altered state of consciousness occurs when some aspect of normal consciousness is modified by mental, behavioral, or chemical means Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

Hypnosis • Hypnosis • An induced state of altered awareness, characterized by heightened suggestibility and deep relaxation Hypnotizability The degree to which an individual is responsive to hypnotic suggestions Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

Is Hypnosis … 1. a distinct state of consciousness? 2. simply heightened motivation? People are ‘hypnotized’ because they want to be or expect to be 3. a social process? Role playing to please others or the instructor 4. a dissociative state involving a “hidden observer” in the person’s mind The Hidden Observer is the part of the self that is aware of things outside conscious awareness. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

Hilgard’s Hidden Observer Theory • • Hypnosis is a dissociated state involving a “hidden observer” in a person’s mind operating in parallel with the normal consciousness • Hilgard called the unhypnotized part of the mind the "hidden observer". • He argued, a person undergoing hypnosis to manage chronic pain feels no conscious pain; but that does not mean the Copyright © Allyn Bacon 2007 pain is&not there

• In one experiment conducted by the Hilgards, subjects were hypnotized and told they would feel no pain or discomfort when an arm was placed in ice water. • The subjects reported no pain or discomfort during these procedures. • When their "hidden observers" were tapped into, there were reports of pain and discomfort

Hypnosis As an Altered State • Experts disagree about whether hypnosis involves – A distinct state of consciousness – Heightened motivation – Social processes such as role playing – A dissociate state (Hilgard’s “hidden observer” view) Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

Practical Uses for Hypnosis Researchers Psychological treatment Medical and dental treatment Hypnotic analgesia – Diminished sensitivity to pain while under hypnosis Curing bad habits such as smoking – posthypnotic suggestion Lamaze Method of Natural Childbirth Uses hypnosis-like procedures to control pain Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

As an altered state of consciousness…that may be a western world view Buddhism teaches that the world is an illusion of the senses, so meditation more accurately captures reality Reduces anxiety, tension, lowers blood pressure and stress hormones, changes brain wave patterns