Nature of consciousness
Consciousness as a psychological construct that varies along a continuum, broadly
categorised into normal waking consciousness and altered states of consciousness
(naturally occurring and induced)
Psychological construct: an entity we believe to exist because we can measure its effects but
we cannot directly measure or observe the entity itself via subjective or objective measures
Consciousness: the awareness of internal or external stimuli
● Normal waking consciousness (NWC):
● It is characterised by the ability to be aware of both internal and external stimuli
○ You can regulate their emotions, control actions and thoughts, have an accurate
sense of tie and the ability to perceive internal and external stimuli
● Altered states of consciousness (ASC):
○ A state of consciousness characterised by having a, usually temporary, altered
level of awareness which deviate from NWC
■ There may be perceptual or cognitive distortions, changes in self-control,
emotional regulation or time regulation and decreased levels of
awareness
■ Naturally occurring ASC: a type of altered state of consciousness that
occurs without intervention e.g. Sleep, daydreaming
■ Induced ASC: a type of altered state of consciousness that occurs due to
purposeful action or aid e.g. Drugs, alcohol, meditation
Continuum of consciousness: a progression of states of consciousness ranging from least
aware to most aware
As it is difficult to tell where one level of consciousness beginning and another ends it is better
to display the varying levels on consciousness along a continuum compared to in distinct
categories
Other objective measurements of consciousness:
● Cognitive tasks: a form of assessment that measures some aspects of a person's
thought through consciousness
○ Speed: the rate at which a person responds to a stimulus in a task
○ Accuracy: the precision with which a person completes a task
, Subjective measurements of consciousness:
● Sleep diaries: a log of subjective behavioural and psychological experiences
surrounding an persons sleep
● Video monitoring: a type of data collected involving video and sound recordings of an
individuals in their sleeping period
Changes in a person’s psychological state due to levels of awareness, controlled and
automatic processes, content limitations, perceptual and cognitive distortions, emotional
awareness, self-control and time orientation
Psychological characteristics of consciousness:
● Levels of awareness: the degree to which an individual is conscious of both external and
internal stimuli
○ In NWC individuals have fairly high levels of awareness allowing them to observe
internal and external stimuli
○ In ASC awareness tends to be lowered or focused on a particular stimuli
● Controlled and automatic processes:
○ Controlled processes: tasks that require low levels of mental processing and can
have divided attention
○ Automatic processes: tasks that require a high level of mental processing and
requite selective attention
● Content limitations: a restraint place on the thoughts that are occurring in a person’s
mind
○ In NWC people are able to limit their content and can choose what to focus on
and what not to focus on
○ In ASC thoughts are less restricted and can be irrational, illogical, creative ect
● Perceptual and cognitive distortions:
○ Perceptual distortions: the process of interpreting information via the senses
■ Changes in pain, sight
○ Cognitive distortions: involves understanding and processing information
■ Illogical or irrational thoughts., memory difficulties
● Emotional awareness: the understanding of your own emotional state and the ability to
control it as well as the ability to accurately perceive the emotions of other
○ In NWC it is usually easier to understand and control ones emotions and
perceive others emotions
○ In ASC emotional state awareness and control is more difficult and emotions may
be heightened or dulled
● Self-control: a person’s ability to restrain or hold composure over their thoughts, feelings
and actions
Consciousness as a psychological construct that varies along a continuum, broadly
categorised into normal waking consciousness and altered states of consciousness
(naturally occurring and induced)
Psychological construct: an entity we believe to exist because we can measure its effects but
we cannot directly measure or observe the entity itself via subjective or objective measures
Consciousness: the awareness of internal or external stimuli
● Normal waking consciousness (NWC):
● It is characterised by the ability to be aware of both internal and external stimuli
○ You can regulate their emotions, control actions and thoughts, have an accurate
sense of tie and the ability to perceive internal and external stimuli
● Altered states of consciousness (ASC):
○ A state of consciousness characterised by having a, usually temporary, altered
level of awareness which deviate from NWC
■ There may be perceptual or cognitive distortions, changes in self-control,
emotional regulation or time regulation and decreased levels of
awareness
■ Naturally occurring ASC: a type of altered state of consciousness that
occurs without intervention e.g. Sleep, daydreaming
■ Induced ASC: a type of altered state of consciousness that occurs due to
purposeful action or aid e.g. Drugs, alcohol, meditation
Continuum of consciousness: a progression of states of consciousness ranging from least
aware to most aware
As it is difficult to tell where one level of consciousness beginning and another ends it is better
to display the varying levels on consciousness along a continuum compared to in distinct
categories
Other objective measurements of consciousness:
● Cognitive tasks: a form of assessment that measures some aspects of a person's
thought through consciousness
○ Speed: the rate at which a person responds to a stimulus in a task
○ Accuracy: the precision with which a person completes a task
, Subjective measurements of consciousness:
● Sleep diaries: a log of subjective behavioural and psychological experiences
surrounding an persons sleep
● Video monitoring: a type of data collected involving video and sound recordings of an
individuals in their sleeping period
Changes in a person’s psychological state due to levels of awareness, controlled and
automatic processes, content limitations, perceptual and cognitive distortions, emotional
awareness, self-control and time orientation
Psychological characteristics of consciousness:
● Levels of awareness: the degree to which an individual is conscious of both external and
internal stimuli
○ In NWC individuals have fairly high levels of awareness allowing them to observe
internal and external stimuli
○ In ASC awareness tends to be lowered or focused on a particular stimuli
● Controlled and automatic processes:
○ Controlled processes: tasks that require low levels of mental processing and can
have divided attention
○ Automatic processes: tasks that require a high level of mental processing and
requite selective attention
● Content limitations: a restraint place on the thoughts that are occurring in a person’s
mind
○ In NWC people are able to limit their content and can choose what to focus on
and what not to focus on
○ In ASC thoughts are less restricted and can be irrational, illogical, creative ect
● Perceptual and cognitive distortions:
○ Perceptual distortions: the process of interpreting information via the senses
■ Changes in pain, sight
○ Cognitive distortions: involves understanding and processing information
■ Illogical or irrational thoughts., memory difficulties
● Emotional awareness: the understanding of your own emotional state and the ability to
control it as well as the ability to accurately perceive the emotions of other
○ In NWC it is usually easier to understand and control ones emotions and
perceive others emotions
○ In ASC emotional state awareness and control is more difficult and emotions may
be heightened or dulled
● Self-control: a person’s ability to restrain or hold composure over their thoughts, feelings
and actions
