ANTH 222 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Scholarly Approaches Of Mysticism, Religious Ecstasy, Theta Wave
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Altered state of consciousness
● A state of mind in which the brain begins to function substantially differently from the
normal waking state
● Biologically-based
● A human universal (in theory, anyone can experience it)
Examples:
● Lucid dreams
● Various mental disorders
● Meditative states
● Trance
● Hypnosis
Altered states are often described on a spectrum of “light” to “deep”, depending on how much
they affect the individual’s waking abilities.
Biological Characteristics of ASC
● Changes in brain-wave patterns: theta waves
● Increased heart rate
● Decreased blood pressure
● Drop in stressor hormones: adrenaline & noradrenaline
● Rise in endorphins (resembles opiates - delivers a feeling of well-being)
The Intensity of ASC
Human Brain Waves
● Alpha waves are often reached through light meditation
● Theta waves are associated with trance
Variable intensity of ASCs
Less intense: daydreaming. “Highway hypnosis”. Engrossment. Light hypnotic trance.
More intense: full-fledged dissociation. “Possession-trance”.
Trance: an altered state of consciousness induced by religious or sensory fervor that produces
a state of profound abstraction or absorption.
What do people experience in trance?
● Dream-like states
● Hallucinations (visual and auditory)
● Telepathy and empathy
● Alterations in time and space
● Precognition and retrocognition
● Senses may be heightened or dulled
● Alterations in heart rate, breathing, body temperature, pain tolerance, and bleeding
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