Altered States of Consciousness

This theoretical study contains a systematic analysis of altered states of consciousness. The study is based on a reflection of the qualitative altered states of consciousness, that offers some potential and attempts to describe altered states of consciousness in their complexity as well as to map all their aspects in a structured. It utilises the notion of consciousness to define the altered states of consciousness. The chosen method is to work with literary sources where an emphasis is placed on an interdisciplinary approach. The structure of the thesis is divided into three chapters. The key topic of the first chapter is an examination of the phenomenon of consciousness and interdisciplinary theories of consciousness. The second chapter is focused on the description and analysis of altered states of consciousness, concentrates on the history and methods of research of altered states of consciousness and delineates their basic characteristic and their functions. The last chapter divides the altered states of consciousness into categories and gives them a detailed description. The thesis ends with a final conclusion which brings an integration of the findings above mentioned with the focused on the second chapter. Keywords: consciousness, altered states of consciousness, sleep and dreaming, near..