All that you know about yourself comes to you
through your conscious awareness. But what is consciousness? How does the brain
generate consciousness and how can science of the mind describe and explain it?
This course will introduce you to the phenomenon of consciousness, as well as
some of the difficulties it presents to science and philosophy.
The course look at a variety of topics
beginning with some philosophical considerations, and then moving
onto an examination of research and theories on sleep and dreams,hypnosis, organic brain damage, the placebo
effect, and synaesthesia. In addition, we explore the
relationship between quantum physics and consciousness. How
does each of these topics contribute to our understanding of our mind and
consciousness?
In psychology the most interesting states of
consciousness are those which alter the experience of consciousness. We all
experience conditions such as nocturnal dreaming, hypnosis, and other altered
states of consciousness. Altered states are more common, especially in the form
of emotional states, than is generally recognized, and can have strong effects
on the way we see the world, ourselves, and others. An understanding of them,
therefore, is important to us all.
Consciousness is both the most important and
most baffling aspect of the mind. It is at the very heart of our existence yet
is a challenge to describe and explain it. In this course we will face the
challenge by discussing some of the most fascinating topics that relate to the
subject
Course Topics
Overview of Psychology and Consciousness:
What is consciousness? Why is it a challenge
to study it? In what ways can psychology help our understanding of
consciousness?
Sleep & Dreams - Altered states of
Consciousness
What is the purpose of sleeping? Why do we
dream? A lucid dream is a dream in which you know you are dreaming – what have
psychologists learned from lucid dreaming research?
Hypnosis - Altered states of Consciousness
What is the altered state of consciousness of
hypnosis? How does it feel to be hypnotised? How could hypnosis unlock our
unconscious thoughts? What could we use hypnosis for?
Quantum Physics & Consciousness
A number of controversial and fascinating
theorists in the field of quantum physics claim that there is a strong
relationship between consciousness and the way we influence our environment.
What are their claims? What does the potential relationship mean?
Placebo Effect
The Placebo
Effect is one of the most mysterious
phenomena in medicine and psychology. What does the placebo effect tell
us about the healing power of the mind? What do we learn about the mind-body
connection as we research the placebo effect as part of consciousness studies?
Neuropsychology of consciousness
How can we research the brain and the
experience of consciousness that it produces? What can we learn about human
consciousness from contemporary neuropsychological research? What areas of the
brain are in charge of our conscious experience?
Psychology of Consciousness - Course details and registration
Dates: TBA
Day & Time: TBA
Number of classes:TBA
Venue:
UCL (University
College London)
Department of Psychology
26 Bedford Way
London WC1H 0AP
3rd floor, room 313
Nearest Underground stations:
Russell Square (Piccadilly line)
Goodge Street (Northern Line)
Euston Square (Hammesmith & City, Circle, Metropolitan)
Tottenham Court Road (Northern Line, Central line)
Psychology of Consciousness Course
