1. Consciousness has several different meanings. Provide two definitions and give an example of each. (4 pts)
Although there are several meanings listed for the word “consciousness” the two definitions that I chose from www.dictionary.com were:
• Awareness of one's own existence, sensations, thoughts, surroundings, etc. An example is if I am sad, I can try to understand my sadness and why I am sad this is consciousness.
• Full activity of the mind and senses, as in waking life. An example being if a person faints and loses consciousness, but when they wake up they have regained consciousness.
2. Do you consider hypnosis and meditation to be altered states of consciousness? State your reasons why or why not and cite your supporting information. (5 pts)
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The main elements of hypnosis are concentration on specific stimuli (a light, a voice, an object), relaxation of the body, and a dissociation from your environment. Meditation is a different process because rather than making you escape reality it allows a person to focus their consciousness to alter their relationship to the world. Many people use meditation to help deal with stress or as a means of spiritual connection. The alerted state of consciousness that people experience during meditations can often help people to have profound or life changing experiences. Both hypnosis and meditation involve focusing on stimuli that are not common parts of our daily lives. People are either in a state of consciousness, or in a state of subconscious or unconscious. A person in a conscious state responds to environmental stimuli. During hypnosis or meditation, a person is not actively engaged with the external stimuli. The state that I believe best explains hypnosis or meditation is being in a subconscious state. In the subconscious state a person is aware of their surroundings, but they do not focus on the environmental