Ap Psychology Chapter 4

Chapter 4 discusses the several states of consciousness: the nature of consciousness, sleep and dreams, psychoactive drugs, hypnosis, and meditation. Consciousness is a crucial part of human experience, it represents that private inner mind where we think, feel, plan, wish, pray, omagine, and quietly relive experiences. William James described the mind as a stream of consciousness, a continuous flow of changing sensations, images thoughts, and feelings. Consciousness has two major parts: awareness and arousal. Awareness includes the awareness of the self and thoughts about one's experiences. Arousal is the physiological state of being engaged with the environment. Theory of mind refers to individuals understanding that they and others think,

feel, perceive, and have private experiences. Higher level consciousness individuals actively focus their efforts toward a goal. Controlled processes require selective attention, the ability to concentrate on a specific aspect of experience while ignoring others. Lower level of consciousness, include automatic processes and daydreaming.
Sleep and dreams, a natural state of rest for the body and mind that involves the reversible loss of consciousness.

Sleep is a way to conserve energy, is restorative, centers on the role of sleep in brain plasticity, and can enhance your memory. Insomnia is a sleep disorder which an individual can have problems falling asleep, waking up during the night, or waking up to early. Another is Somnambulism, which is sleepwalking or sleep talking. Nightmares are a frightening dream that awakens a dreamer from REM sleep.
Hypnosis is an altered state of consciousness or as a psychological state of altered attention and expectation in which the individual is unusually receptive to suggestions. Meditations involves attaining a peaceful state of mind in which thoughts are not occupied by worry: the meditator is mindfully present to his or her thoughts and feelings but is not consumed by them.
This topic interests me because I personally didn’t know all the different states of consciousness there were. I enjoyed learning all of them and seeing which one I have had or had

not.
Many of my friends have been hypnotized before and always told me that they don’t realize what they are doing or remember it, but once it stops then they wonder what just happened or what they did. The sleeping and dreaming area really caught my attention, because in school I always daydream about objects or situations. Also I liked the sleeping section because it explained why you need rest and what could happen if you don’t get enough or if you get to much.
Being an athlete I am always looking for time to rest but never get much, by juggling school work, sports, and other activities at the same time. I swim for a team over an hour away from where live Learning this topic has had an effect on me personally because now I can change some of the actions I do, and know about what they can do to me.
For my final topic I chose chapter 14, Health Psychology.

This section discusses health psychology and behavioral medicine, making positive life changes, resources for effective life change, controlling stress, behaving, and your good life. Health psychology emphasizes psychology’s role in establishing and maintaining health and preventing and treating illness. It reflects the belief that lifestyle choices, behaviors, and psychological characteristics can play important roles in health. The mind is responsible for much of what happens in the body, it is not the only factor, the body may influence the mind as well. Making positive life changes include health behaviors- practices that have an impact on physical well being. The stages of change model describes the process by which individuals give up bad habits and adopt healthier lifestyles. The model has five stages: precontemplation, contemplation, preparation/ determination, action/ willpower, and

maintenance.
Resources for effective life change can help us achieve effective change and a healthier life. One is motivation, motivational tools for self-change involve changing for the right reasons. Social relationship can also lead to a healthier life because being connected to others is crucial to survival. Social support is information and feedback from others indicating that one is loved and cared for, esteemed and valued, and included in a network of communication and mutual obligation. Religious faith can lead to a healthier life by weekly religious attendance that relates to a host of healthy behaviors. Self-efficacy is needed for a healthier life because it is an individual's belief that he or she can master a situation and produce positive outcomes.
Controlling stress, GAS is Selye’s term for the common effects on the body when demands are placed on it. Three stages: alarm stage, resistance stage, and exhaustion stage. Chronic stress can have serious problems for the immune system. It can also cause Cardiovascular Disease and possibly lead to Cancer. Coping with stress will help individuals have a healthier life. Problem-focused coping is the cognitive strategy of squarely facing one's troubles and trying to solve them. Emotion-focused coping entails responding to the stress that one is feeling. Behaving is important to make wise behavioral choices in four additional life domains where healthy habits can benefit both body and mind. Daily exercise refers to structured activities whose goal is to improve health. Eating right will keep individuals from becoming obese or overweight. Quitting smoking, it can lead to cancer, heart disease, and chronic pulmonary disease. Practicing safe sex will keep individual from getting sexually transmitted infections.Your good life, at every moment both body and mind are present and affecting each other.
This topic was of interest to me because, I try to live healthy lifestyle, but I might not be as healthy as I think I am. I work out everyday and I don’t drink or smoke. I may need to get more sleep, i usually push sleep aside to do homework or wake up early for practice.
I have healthy relationships with most of the people in my life, my brother and I fight a lot, by all siblings do. I Think I will apply some of the information from this chapter when i’m older. I don’t need to lose weight or change many things in my life right now, but I expect I will have to change in the future.
I am generally healthy, but this has helped me realize that many people I surround myself with are unhealthy and have bad habits they need to work on.