States of Consciousness: Models for Psychology and Psychotherapy

INTRODUCTION CHAPTER 1. GENERAL PRESUMPTIONS AND CONCEPTS REFERRING TO CONSCIOUSNESS AND ITS ALTERED STATES Preface The Philosophical Presumptions Consciousness, Self-consciousness and Awareness The Notion of Altered States of Consciousness and Other Terms of Similar Meaning Superficially and Profoundly Altered States of Consciousness CHAPTER 2. THEORETICAL INSPIRATIONS Preface Neojacksonian Psychophysiological Psychiatry of Jan Mazurkiewicz Introduction History of Misperception of Jacksonian Theory by Psychiatry The Main Principles of Neo-Jacksonian Theory of Mazurkiewicz 1.3.1. Double Function of CNS 1.3.2.Instinctual Sources of Psychic Activity 1.3.3. Dynamic Function of Emotions 1.3.4. The Psychophysiology Theory 1.3.5. The Psychopathology Theory 1.3.6. Schema of Human Psychical Activity 1.4 Conclusion Comprehensive Descriptive Psychiatry by Antoni Kepinski: Metabolism of Information and Psychopathology of Values Experiencing Introduction Metabolism of Information 2.2.1. Basic Concepts 2.2.2. Basic Functions and Structures 2.2.3. A Model of Information Metabolism 2.3. The Axiological Approach to Psychiatry According to Antoni Kepinski 2.4. To Understand in Order to 'Raise in Spirit' 2.5. Conclusions CHAPTER 3. THE VARIETY OF SUBJECTIVE EXPERIENCES Preface Altered States of Consciousness are Common Phenomenology of Altered States of Consciousness The Contents of Experiences is Not Specific for Mental Disorders: Altered States of Consciousness Among Schizophrenics and Healthy CHAPTER 4. THE MAIN RESULTS RESEARCH ON ALTERED STATES OF CONSCIOUNESS AND ITS GENERAL THEORIES Preface A review of Scientific Findings Historical Background of Altered States of Consciousness Investigations Conclusions from Researches in Search of Altered States of Consciousness Mechanisms General Psychological Theories and Models of Altered States of Consciousness Classical Theories of Consciousness William James Karl Jaspers Sigmund Freud Carl Gustaw Jung Contemporary Theories and Models of Consciousness Introduction Gruehn Fisher's Cartography of States of Consciousness Weil's Drive to Altered States of Consciousness Tart's System Approach Jaynes's Concept of Bicameral Mind Transpersonal Approach Psychodynamic Approach Cognitive Approach Other Theories Conclusions CHAPTER 5. MODELS OF STATES OF CONSCIOUSNESS AND INFORMATION METABOLISM Preface Terminological Solutions 1.1. Introduction Theoretical Presumptions 2.1. Conclusions from The Review of Existing Data and Theories of States of Consciousness and its Altered States 2.2. The Current Version of The Model of The Information Metabolism The Main Presumptions Justification of The Information Metabolism