Consciousness in Psychology and physics and the soul as reference to consciousness within Religion: What It Means to Be Conscious
Introduction
In psychology, consciousness is one of the most complex and debated concepts. It refers broadly to awareness of internal and external experiences, but modern psychological and neuroscientific research shows that consciousness involves attention, perception, memory, self-awareness, and brain processes working together in order to actively perceive and create a field of experience that is the world ( the environment surrounding the perceiver ). Rather than being a single process, consciousness is considered a multidimensional psychological and physical state involving awareness, subjective and objective experience, and self-reflection going beyond the initial subject (sight) such as that observed within the blind, furthermore we can also study and experience collective consciousness which is a collective experience of the same state or event induced by the environment, an intoxicant or shared energy experienced through stimuli, both external e.g music or internal such as thoughts or collective thoughts which can influence our objective and subjective experiences.
Collective thoughts, consciousness & ideology
Through mediums such as communication, being through sound or bodily expressions, we can influence one another’s state of being (emotional state). Collective consciousness is the ability for organisms to experience the same shared state of being (especially complex organisms such as humans which can be observed closer to objective reality due to shared language and collective lifestyle with minimal biases due to the reduction of distortion as humans can comprehend humans much better than we can observe other organisms), a shared state of being can be experienced through the induction of emotions in example this can be experienced through collective expression verbal and non verbal communication and it can also be experienced by priming a group to associate certain stimuli e.g sounds with certain ideologies and actions therefor inducing emotions and a collective experience amongst those knowing of the meaning of such stimuli, this means that so long as there is at least 1 form of energy input collective experience can take place without anyone from said group even moving e.g observed amongst synesthetes. The holy spirit is the age old explanation of such collective experience, a positive (holy) collective experience can be clearly observed, the positive energy within a collectively shared environment can be clearly perceived without there being any physically seen energy in space, it is the holy state which can be perceived collectively through communication and output of positive energy described within religious texts as being similar to the waves observed within wind or a fire (Energy combustion).
Collective ideology & social construct
Collective ideology is the shared system of beliefs, values, norms, and moral understandings that members of a group or society recognise as common and share as the foundation of their society, helping to create social unity and coordinate behaviour; in Durkheim’s classic account, these shared values and beliefs work as a “collective conscience” a preconceived taught reaction to an anticipated previous occurrence which may reoccur, that supports cooperation and helps maintain societal rhythm (daily progression towards a common goal) . Searle’s formula explores how without context it is not possible to have structure, in example without societal acceptance of one another’s differences it is not possible to have a healthy thriving system where trade and living occurs meaning in the (context C society) (acceptance of others X) counts as (Y acceptance of self into the collective system), as social organisms we require society, role formation, collective belief formation and collective mind processes: groups develop shared interpretations, goals, and expectations through communication and shared experience, so the group can appear to have a unified perspective even though it is still made up of individual minds. Recent research describes this as a unified mental state across agents with convergent experiences, and also shows that social network structure shapes how collective cognition emerges.
Organism synchronicity
Social organisms such as humans naturally synchronise upon habituation with one another both on a benign physical level and the visible communication of emotion and experience through body language, Organism synchronicity refers to the coordinated alignment of behaviour, physiology, or timing across individuals, often emerging without central control through processes such as entertainment, where organisms adjust their rhythms in response to one another or shared environmental cues. In humans, synchronicity is evident in phenomena such as conversational alignment (people matching speech rate and gestures depending on comfort or fight or flight), coordinated movement in music or dance, and physiological coupling (e.g., heart rate or neural synchrony increasing during social interaction), all of which are linked to social bonding and cooperation. In other species, striking examples include the synchronous flashing of fireflies, where large groups coordinate bioluminescent signals for mating displays, and flocking, or schooling behaviours in birds and fish, where individuals align movement patterns rapidly and dynamically. These patterns are often explained through models of coupled oscillators, demonstrating how simple local interactions can produce complex group-level synchrony e.g wave production in water from different directions. Such synchronicity highlights a fundamental biological principle: coordinated timing enhances communication, reproduction, and survival across species; for example people working together can be observed moving at a similar pace to an extent where if a group was to wear plain clothing they can be observed moving in coordination with one another and exhibiting group behaviour such as physical signs of communication, e.g. looking and gesturing one another, ordinary comfortable organism movement or aroused organism movement has a certain rhythm and pace, psychology can help identify the meaning of exhibited movement by the observation of such rhythm, this rhythm can be modeled using mathematics. In order to have a modelable and comparative speed of movement, kinetic acts such as walking will be in consideration, speed of movement can be observed amongst any kinetic energy producing act such as the movement of the head to look around or walking which can be used as an example to model the movement of different organisms in relation to one another such as observed in the following study ( Meyer-Vernet, N., & Rospars, J.-P. (2015). How fast do living organisms move? Maximum speeds from bacteria to elephants and whales. American Journal of Physics, 83(8), 719–722. https://doi.org/10.1119/1.4917310 ) this study outlines the relationship between the maximum speed of movement in organisms such as mammals in relation to their body mass. What can be learnt from this study is movement observed amongst organisms can have the same or similar speed, rhythm or dynamics (the act of movement is the same amongst all organisms (an act which interchanges energy), movement being an action which interchanges energy to kinetics, the difference is the intensity of interchange which is dependant on mass and, will to move). Although living is a continuum, organisms have the tendency to move and speak ( interchange energy) in 1s 3s 6s and 9s such as observed in the movement of most living organisms. ( Arithmetics is the study of the rhythm of numbers, numbers can model the rhythm of movement, digital rooting helps us understand the relationship between the numbers, the simplest way to express the relationship between the numbers is in a single digit 1 or (X), change in rhythm is most fluent and rhythmic in 3s which can then be used to express change in the most fluid manner for the longest consecutive sequence remaining a single digit 9 in other words the largest single digit or the longest continuum of fluid change is 9 ) we can apply the same principle to movement, organisms have the tendency to move in the most nature pleasing rhythmic manner which is following the Pattern of fluidity 3,6,9 s this was also referenced by nikola tesla as being the secret of the universe, simply put the secret of the universe is fluidity, movement through space time, disorder occurring in the most rhythmic mathematically and naturally pleasing manner. The following phenomena can also be observed in mathematically significant sequences such as the fibonacci sequence or the golden ratio which can help in understanding the structure such as organic material. A graph which is the physical segmentation of a subject in quantifiable terms modelled visually with increase in the number of axis being equal to increase in the number of dimensions. The following is the description of the fabric of consciousness, that which we are conscious of however we cannot actively perceive in its raw form.
The Fibonacci sequence is a sequence of change which can be modelled in both an inwards and outward direction. consider the sequence spiralling outwards where the new rectangle (product), being the (number value) is the sum (makeup) of the previous 2 rectangles. this sequence is naturally pleasing and can be observed in nature which may explain why art which entales the sequence is visually pleasing.
Imagine the endless sequences within nature which have yet to be discovered.
The pattern of fluidity is the sequence of 3, 6, 9 which is the systematic increase in intervals of 3s until the largest single digit value is reached in other words the most nature pleasing sequence of reaching connection in singularity. the following pattern can be observed and confirmed in phenomena such as digital rooting
Synchronicity can also be observed in motion, humans also synchronise where the larger energy force dictates the movement of the lesser in the forced direction e.g synchronicity can be observed in a ship or on a train where the collective are all subject to movement in the forced direction. Another interesting example is the synchronisation of women’s ovulation within a habituated environment such as a community, this provides all women a time frame to mate in synchronicity and reduces the likelihood of a man impregnating all available women, this is 1 piece of evidence for why humans are societal and not solitary organisms, nature has the tendency to exist in motion where all contribute to their system and all systems intertwine.
- Graphs can quantify physics which can then aid in the understanding of consciousness, the mechanisms of consciousness and the energetic interplay of organising (living in relation to the environment), understanding consciousness within the space time continuum.
- From the following graph we can also visualise the interplay of relative magnetic interaction between organisms and the planet, the planet to the sun and the sun to the solar system, quite similar to the Fibonacci sequence
graphs such as the following can contribute to our understanding of multidimensional complex topics such as consciousness within the space time continuum.
Definition of Consciousness in Psychology
In psychological terms, consciousness is typically defined as our awareness of ourselves and our environment, including thoughts, feelings, sensations, and surroundings.
Psychologists often describe consciousness as including:
- Awareness of internal stimuli (thoughts, emotions, pain, hunger)
- Awareness of external stimuli (sounds, sights, environment, matter and matter perception)
- Awareness of oneself as an individual
- Ability to think and reflect on experiences memory( a recollection of objective and subjective reality )
- Awareness of other organisms and the experiences of other organisms through communication such as language, vocal and physical observed amongst humans and other organisms
Consciousness is also viewed as a continuum, ranging from full alertness to sleep, unconsciousness, or altered states such as intoxication or altered states of perception such as hypnosis.
The soul
The soul such as referred to in religious texts such as in christianity is reference to active perception within current space time enabled by physiological activities such as neuro-processes within the brain as well as physiological processes such as the heartbeat which all function together to allow the perception of physical space e.g touch aided by light which enables organisms to see, a difference between humans and other organisms being the complexity of thought processing aided by our ability to think in terms of language and imagination whilst organisms e.g dogs can only perceive and think in terms of imagination whilst associating different perceptions such as danger with sounds such as barking and growling. Consciousness is developed through age however newborns are born with a basic set of abilities which allows them to perceive on a basic level, an example being the nostrils, which helps the newborn distinguish the scent of the caregiver.
Key Components of Consciousness
Modern psychology generally breaks consciousness into several components.
1. Awareness
Awareness is the ability to perceive and recognise internal and external experiences. This includes awareness of thoughts, emotions, bodily sensations, and surroundings. Awareness is closely linked to attention because we cannot be conscious of everything at once; attention filters what enters consciousness, we as conscious beings have the ability to direct our attention (active processing of a subject through direction and focusing of senses) .
2. Subjective Experience
Consciousness also refers to subjective experience, meaning the personal experience and perception of sensations and thoughts, the complication in psychology begins where different individuals with history of experience and different ways in which these individuals perceive, understand, layer and store experiences based on knowledge, education and culture, leading to a ripple effect where previous stored experiences (memory) actively influence new subjective experiences meaning no 2 organisms can experience the same phenomenon in the exact same way, this means even if identical twins x were to experience the same circumstances over a lifetime they will be completely different individuals to themselves (self perception) and to those surrounding them (social perception). Who we are within is only known to self and even if we are to imagine ourself to be the most solitary of organisms we require some sort of interaction with another being alike, and our output the energy which we choose to exhibit through different forms of expression, this can be expressed through actions e,g physical or vocal causing some sort of physical output into the environment affecting the physical being of space and impacting other perceiving organisms which will create a social perception, meaning an individual can be and perceived to be totally different beings whether by deliberate or accidental actions, due to psycho physiological differences e.g differences in thinking pattern, introspection and physical differences such as fitness or nervous response. The reality is that events, memory and knowledge can be lost and become distorted through time. Preserving Bookmarks such as culture, knowledge and religion preserve perceptions of objective reality, and how objective reality could be experienced in order to maximise our experience of life, meaning individuals can be subject to learning and experience in a similar manner and to minimise disputes and conflict because after all we are all organisms with the same needs, This preservation and cooperation is the reason humans are advanced. Psychologists may refer to the preservation and communication of an experience as qualia, which refers to what it feels like to experience (e.g., the taste of chocolate or the feeling of pain). This aspect of consciousness cannot be directly observed by others and is only known through first-person experience e.g the knowledge of one’s own knee stiffness can only be experienced first person however this experience can be expressed through communication to another.
3. Self-Awareness
Self-awareness is the ability to recognise oneself as separate from the environment and to reflect on one’s own thoughts and actions. It includes introspection and metacognition (thinking about thinking). Reflective self-awareness is often described as “awareness of awareness.” or aware recollection of experience this can help organisms pinpoint major objective and subjective events, changes in persona (self perception) and create time perception.
The physics of consciousness
Time can only exist if the laws of the universe apply, an example being gravity. time is the modelled, quantified measurement of gravitational relativity of the earth to the sun, in the same way that magnetic fields of organisms are the interaction of energy between organism and earth, an interesting question is if time is the measure of relative interaction between earth and sun why is there no measure for relative interaction between organism and earth ? Time is the measure of relative interaction between the energy field of the earth to the sun. consciousness is simply the ability of an organism to perceive the reaction of energy. There is no way to prove what occurs after death however if we apply the same concept to organising (living in a system which is relative to one another) the conclusion can be the release of energy, life force or tension back into the earth or atmosphere.
States of matter
The energy density of matter or being, the more energy dense the matter the more disorderly the matter or being and therefore the matter occupying more space, higher activity requiring more space for expression.
Mathematics being a quantitative visualiser of a degree of motion e.g making motion perceivable by expressing the motion in understandable visual and processible symbols therefor we can better understand that which we cannot see, motion, gravity and therefore space
States of matter are the scientific visualisation of the particles invisible to the naked eye, the energy density of matter or being (an organism), the more energy dense the matter or if modeled in the concept of an organism (the more mass dense) the more disorderly the matter or being and therefore the matter occupying more space, higher activity and able to interchange more energy.
Emotional arousal is directly proportional to energy interchange, the more emotionally aroused an individual the higher their bodily activity, emotion is an actual perceivable state of being without any physically seen output, nor do we have a measure to measure the actual energy output (emotion can not be seen however perceived)
The sun : energy output, people can be observed producing more motion outside under the influence of the sun, they can be observed being in a higher energy state due to the warmth otherwise known as electromagnetic radiation, nature can be seen flourishing in the sun as it feeds on the energy of the sun, the sun also provides the earth with different wavelengths of light. Einstein’s formula proves energy is the relationship between visible light and the mass of an organism or object.
Energy = mass x light constant (speed of light)^2
E=MC^2
sight is a central and almost fundamental part of consciousness and without light sight in not possible, light is required to stimulate the retina and create vision.
A magnetic field such as earth’s magnetic field being central to energy recycling, as energy cannot be created or destroyed only interchanged between its different forms. Active charged particles within organisms react to magnetic fields allowing consciousness to take place without a magnetic field a current would not be possible, therefore consciousness would not be possible without a magnetic field, the earth would have no organisms thriving such as planets like mars.
Consciousness and the Brain (Neuroscience Perspective)
From a neuroscience perspective, consciousness is linked to brain activity and information processing. Consciousness appears to arise from networks of brain activity that process sensory information, memory, and attention to further perceive info and create new memories, a cycle of being until the being is over .
Recent neuroscience research suggests that consciousness may be linked strongly to sensory processing regions in the brain, particularly areas involved in perception, rather than only higher-level reasoning areas.
This supports the idea that consciousness is closely related to:
- Perception
- Attention
- Memory
- Decision making
- Emotional processing
- Physical output (if one is to experience negativity within they are more likely to express negativity without)
Psychological Theories of Consciousness
Several modern psychological and cognitive theories attempt to explain consciousness.
Global Workspace Theory
This theory suggests consciousness occurs when information becomes globally available across the brain, allowing different cognitive systems (memory, attention, decision-making) to access the same information.
Higher-Order Thought Theory
This theory proposes that consciousness occurs when we think about our own mental states, meaning we become aware of our thoughts rather than just having them.
Integrated Information Theory
This theory suggests consciousness arises from complex integration of information in the brain; the more integrated and interconnected the information processing, the higher the level of consciousness, this theory is supported by the fact that we can sharpen our understanding through education, a fun question (isn’t exercise technically educating the muscles ?) and therefore expand our perception and consciousness.
Modern research often combines neuroscience and psychology to understand consciousness through these models.
What It Means to Be Conscious (Psychological Summary)
From a psychological perspective, to be conscious means:
- To be aware of the environment.
- To be aware of internal occurrences such as heartbeat, thoughts and emotions.
- To have subjective experiences.
- To be able to focus attention (on a spectrum e.g ADHD).
- To have memory and perception.
- To have self-awareness and the ability to reflect on oneself (introspection).
- To process information and make decisions.
- To be aware of other organisms inhabiting the environment (social awareness)
Therefore, consciousness is not just being awake, it is the ongoing awareness and experience of the self and the world, created through cognitive processes and brain activity.
Conclusion
In psychology, consciousness is defined as awareness of internal and external experiences combined with subjective experience and self-awareness. It involves attention, perception, memory, and cognitive processing and is closely linked to brain activity. Modern research suggests consciousness emerges from complex brain networks that integrate sensory information, attention, and self-reflection. Understanding consciousness remains one of the central challenges in psychology and neuroscience because it involves both observable brain processes, subjective and objective experience. It is not possible to be aware of self without first being aware of the environment and other organisms within it such as observed in newborns. Through the understanding of psychology we can influence one another’s psychophysiological behaviour such as blink rate, movement speed, positioning, posture, thinking pattern etc. which is evidence for how connected we are as organisms to our environment. Physics can also help us better understand the mechanism of consciousness and the physical yet invisible forces of consciousness, such as that observed in matter and relativity, there are invisible forces such as gravity which dictate and influence how interaction occurs by law. Mathematics can also aid within the understanding of consciousness and the universe through the pattern of fluidity, the most fluid and nature pleasing pattern of change that can also be observed in the Fibonacci sequence.
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