1. States of Consciousness

3. Are you conscious?

4. Are you conscious?
How do you know?

5. For the next 5 min you are to write
every thought that pops into you
head.

6. For the next 5 min you are to write
every thought that pops into you
head.
Consciousness is –
personal, selective, continuous
and changing

7. Consciousness refers to the
awareness of one’s own existence
and mental activities (including
thoughts, sensations, and feelings)
and of objects and events in the
external world.

8. William James
How is human consciousness like a stream

9. Rene Descartes
Consciousness includes everything
we are aware of, including our own
existence (but our senses can’t be Thinking provides evidence of
trusted, so we need to rely on our consciousness and
thinking). knowledge of our own
existence, e.g. ‘I think, therefore I
am’.
Consciousness is of the mind (i.e. ‘soul’) and can
exist in the body as it does not take up space.
The mind (non-physical) and body (physical) are separate and
different things but interact via the pineal gland in the brain
(dualism)

10. William James
Consciousness includes
everything we are aware
of, including our own
existence.
It is like a stream, i.e constant flow of
images, sensations and thoughts, etc.
Consciousness is continually
changing, personal and selective
It has an evolutionary-based role
that enhances our ability to adapt
to the environment.

11. Venn Diagram

12. Characteristics of Normal Waking Consciousness
Although the content of each person’s consciousness is unique there are
characteristics that differentiate the different states of consciousness. These
include:
•Level of attention and awareness
•Content Limitations
•Emotional awareness
•Level of Control
•Experience of time
•Cognitive processes

14. Attention

16. Divided Attention

17. Selective Attention
Level of
Consciousness
Divided Attention

18. Content Limitations
Content Limitations – Content may be limited and restricted through selective
attention. It is generally organised and logical.

19. Levels of awareness
Controlled processes – Information processing requiring conscious, alert awareness and mental
effort in which the person actively focuses their attention towards achieving a particular goal. An
example of this is someone learning to drive a manual car. They need to concentrate on controlling
the steering wheel, the brake, clutch and accelerator when changing gears.
Automatic processes -
requires little conscious mental
effort and awareness, minimal
attention and may not interfere
with other activities. An example
of automatic process is someone
who has been driving a manual
car for a number of years. They
are able to changes gears
automatically.

20. Time Orientation
Time is perceived as moving at a normal
rate. We also have an awareness of our
place in time, and are able to focus on the
past, present and future.

21. Define the term consciousness
How do you know if someone is in NWC?

24. Distortions in Cognition. Where there any
changes in thought content? Disorganised thought,
fantasy etc?

25. Distortions in Cognition. Where there any
changes in thought content? Disorganised thought,
fantasy etc?
Changes in emotional feeling? Do you
feel more relaxed after the relaxation exercise,
did it make you feel more happy? Etc

26. Distortions in Cognition. Where there any
changes in thought content? Disorganised thought,
fantasy etc?
Changes in emotional feeling? Do you
feel more relaxed after the relaxation exercise,
did it make you feel more happy? Etc
Disturbed sense of
time? How long do you
think we were relaxing

27. Distortions in Cognition. Where there any
changes in thought content? Disorganised thought,
fantasy etc?
Changes in emotional feeling? Do you
feel more relaxed after the relaxation exercise,
did it make you feel more happy? Etc
Disturbed sense of
time? How long do you
think we were relaxing
Distortions of Perception? Did
you notice any changes in perception?
Were you more or less aware of the
outside world?

28. Meditation
Is a process employing mental exercises to
achieve a highly focussed state of consciousness

29. Sleep/dreaming/daydreaming
• thought patterns are disorganised
• distorted perception of time
• lack of control of movements
• sensations and perceptions are dulled
Hypnosis
• distorted perception
Meditation
of time
• sensations or perceptions are dulled (for example, pain)
• sensations or
• distorted perception of time
perceptions are dulled
• awareness of external environment is reduced
(for example, pain)
• loss of awareness of
self
• can increase self
From drug use
control (for example,
• thought processes are disorganised
quitting smoking)
• sensations or perceptions are dulled or heightened
• more suggestible, so
• memory impaired
less inhibited
• more/less/inappropriate emotional reactions
• distorted perception of time
• lack of self control

31. Self-control – Did he have difficulty
maintaining self control, coordinating
and controlling movements?

32. Distortions in Cognition. Do you think his
thoughts were disorganised, will he remember this in
the morning?
Self-control – Did he have difficulty
maintaining self control, coordinating
and controlling movements?

33. Distortions in Cognition. Do you think his
thoughts were disorganised, will he remember this in
the morning?
Changes in emotional feeling? What do
you think his emotional state would be like?
Self-control – Did he have difficulty
maintaining self control, coordinating
and controlling movements?

34. Distortions in Cognition. Do you think his
thoughts were disorganised, will he remember this in
the morning?
Changes in emotional feeling? What do
you think his emotional state would be like?
Disturbed sense of
time? Do you think he
would know how long he
Self-control – Did he have difficulty
had been drinking? Or
maintaining self control, coordinating
how long he was in the
and controlling movements?
shop?

35. Distortions in Cognition. Do you think his
thoughts were disorganised, will he remember this in
the morning?
Changes in emotional feeling? What do
you think his emotional state would be like?
Disturbed sense of
time? Do you think he
would know how long he
Self-control – Did he have difficulty
had been drinking? Or
maintaining self control, coordinating
how long he was in the
and controlling movements?
shop?
Distortions of Perception? Would
this guy notice be experiencing any
changes in perception?

36. Complete table: Handout

37. Complete table: Handout
What else would you do to learn the difference between
NWC and ASC?

38. Read: Pg 17-20