Psychology Drugs And Consciousness - 982 Words

Psychology has been an interesting and has taught me many things that have helped me understand and change my life for the better. I knew much coming in because I had taken a psychology class in high school, but I was able to approach this semester with a more open mindset and actually learn something rather than just trying to memorize for a test. I spent more time thinking about real world applications and was able to apply some of the aspects taught in the class as well as some of the pieces I read from the book. The three areas of psychology that were most impactful to my life this year were drugs, depression and stress. To get started, I chose drugs because I’ve grown up with lots of family members that drink and smoke cigarettes along with friends that smoke marijuana. Not only that, but I have also partaken in drinking and even tried marijuana once. As I read through the textbook on the drugs and consciousness chapter I was shocked by some of the numbers and studies done on all three of the above drugs. For example, the book discusses how marijuana can an increase the risk of psychological disorders which for me was terrifying. I already struggle with enough issues so I don’t need any help from a drug to make it worse. Also, the negative aftereffects of alcohol and nicotine have affected my family and friends. I’ve seen people in my family struggle with severe depression from alcohol and heart disease is a problem on both sides of my family, partially related toShow MoreRelatedInvestigating Altered States of Consciousness Essay707 Words   |  3 PagesInvestigating Altered St ates of Consciousness â€Å"The question of what consciousness is, is one that has intrigued psychologists.† (Hayes, N Orrell, H, 2000, page 116.) ‘The term altered states of consciousness refers to significant change in what is considered a normal waking awareness’ (Crisp, T, 2003, Altered states of consciousness, http://www.homepages.tesco.net/~waves/asoc.htm) An altered state of consciousness takes many forms such sleep, dreams, hypnosisRead MoreReflection Paper On Psychology And Psychology999 Words   |  4 Pagesthe study of one’s own conscious thought and feelings based solely on one’s mental state. It’s basically a stream of consciousness, an internal monologue that contributes to one’s own decision making. The idea was credited to Wilhelm Wundt, and his student Edward B. Titchener. Wilhelm Wundt was a German psychologist and founder of modern psychology who established the first psychology lab. Edward B. Titchener was a student of Wilhelm Wundt, who introduced structuralism and the school of thought. IntrospectionsRead MoreThe Pioneer Work Of Dr. Sigmund Freud And Its Influences On The Development Of Psychology933 Words   |  4 Pages Sigmund Freud and its influences on the development of Psychology. It assumes that without the innovative work of Freud the domain of psychology would not have reached its level of knowledge in this present-day. II Freud’s work and achievements In the twentieth century, Freud became one of the innovators of modern-day psychology. He questioned the function of our mind thoroughly. He not only contributed a lot to the domain of psychology, but also in literature and arts. His theories influencedRead MoreEssay about Definition of Psychology714 Words   |  3 PagesDefinition of Psychology The term psychology comes from two Greek words: psyche, which means 1. The spirit or soul. 2. The human mind. 3. In psychoanalysis, the mind functioning as the center of thought, emotion, and behavior. And logos, the study of. or according to modern researches science These root words were first combined in the 16th century, at a time when the human soul, spirit, or mind was seen as distinct from the body. Definition ofRead MorePsychodynamic Perspectives : The Psychodynamic Perspective1345 Words   |  6 PagesThe Psychodynamic Perspective: The Psychodynamic perspective in Psychology examines the theory that our personality and mental disorders are created outside of our awareness by processes in our unconscious mind. It examines the idea that our unconscious outweighs our actual consciousness and that there is more than what we credit ourselves for and/or are potentially unconsciously blocking. One of the best known approaches of this perspective is by using psychoanalysis. This approach highlights andRead MoreEssay on Understanding Consciousness1728 Words   |  7 PagesUnderstanding Consciousness This paper encompasses an analysis of physiological psychology, the relationship between the human nervous system and behavior, and an evaluation of historical figures in the field of physiological psychology The Biopsychological Approach to Understanding Consciousness The process of understanding awareness can be complex. Understanding that there are different spectrums of consciousness and that each type represents different principles is the best approach to understandingRead MoreHypnosis : Advanced Psychology Of Personality887 Words   |  4 Pages HYPNOSIS ADVANCED PSYCHOLOGY OF PERSONALITY SubmittedBy: Sandhya Aryal Submitted To: Dr. Ralph Alexander Date: 10/12/2015 â€Æ' HYPNOSIS Some psychologists think of hypnosis as an altered state of consciousness, while others believe that it is simply a product of more mundane processes such as focused attention and expectation (King, 2010, p.98). Both of the above perspectives are applicable and reasonable. Hypnosis is defined as an adjusted state of consciousness, attention and expectationRead MoreEssay on Altered States of Consciousness1003 Words   |  5 PagesAltered States of Consciousness Consciousness is a state of awareness. This includes a person’s feelings, sensations, ideas, and perceptions. There are many different states of consciousness. Sleep is a state of altered consciousness, characterized by certain patterns of the brains activity and inactivity. An altered state of consciousness is when a person is not completely aware of their surroundings. Some researchers believe that we sleep to clear our minds of useless informationRead MoreA Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor857 Words   |  4 PagesHeroin is a substance that alters the mood and consciousness. It causes the consciousness of an individual to be altered much, unstable moods, and immoral behaviors and speech as well. It is now understood of how compulsive addictions can be, despite the consequences of the addiction. The seriousness of heroin addictions can be noted by viewing statistics. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (2014) explains that â€Å"Heroin is an illegal, highly addictive drug processed from morphine, a naturally occurringRead MorePsychoactive Drugs And Its Effects On Human Consciousness1284 Words   |  6 PagesA psychoactive drug is any substance that can be used to change brain function. This resulting change is responsible for alterations in perception, mood, and consciousness. As long as man has had a basic grasp on understanding consciousness they have tried delving deeper and deeper into their own consciousness and not only grown a larger respect for just how deep they can go but have had experiences that have encouraged them to go deeper. Rock paintings and fossil finds from as far back as 10,000