1. Lesson 2 - Normal Waking Consciousness
Sunday, 22 January 2012
2. From last lesson.... Lesson 1 - What is Consciousness?
Question
What does the term states of consciousness refer to?
Sunday, 22 January 2012
3. From last lesson.... Lesson 1 - What is Consciousness?
Question
What does the term states of consciousness refer to?
Answer
The term ‘states of consciousness’ refers to the level
of awareness of that an individual has of both their
internal processes and external stimuli. Every
individual experiences a range of different levels of
consciousness throughout the progress of a day
Sunday, 22 January 2012
4. Todays lesson
Explain the concept of normal waking consciousness in
terms of the following
• levels of awareness
• content limitations
• controlled and automatic processes
• perceptual and cognitive distortions
•emotional awareness
• self-control
• time orientation
Sunday, 22 January 2012
5. 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
Sunday, 22 January 2012
10. Selective Attention
Level of
Consciousness
Divided Attention
Sunday, 22 January 2012
11. Content Limitations
Content may be limited and restricted through
selective attention. It is generally organised and
logical.
Sunday, 22 January 2012
12. 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.
Sunday, 22 January 2012
13. 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.
Sunday, 22 January 2012
