Consciousness, Dreams, and Self: A Transdisciplinary Approach

Consciousness, Dreams, and Self: A Transdisciplinary Approach

JB Arden

Madison (CT): Psychosocial Press; 1996. 192 p

This book about consciousness is more than transdisciplinary; it examines consciousness from evolutionary viewpoints, mathematical perspectives, biopsychosocial perspectives, self and other psychology theories and indeed, it seems, from just about every point of view that exists. Even if you learn nothing about consciousness by reading this book, you will become educated to the ideas of Niels Bohr, Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle, neuroanatomy and neurophysiology, expanding into sociocultural dynamics and the self system and dreams. I don’t know what is not covered, and I found the book, for the most part, intensely taxing to read but very worthwhile. There are a few chapters that are less sophisticated, but these really do not detract from the value of the book as a whole; in fact, they give the reader time to breathe. Philosophy and religion are mentioned (less adequately), but since the book is only 192 pages (including the index), you cannot expect a comprehensive treatment.

The author’s concept of consciousness is thoroughly explored, although never well defined or explained. The nature of consciousness is suggested in many different ways, but no satisfactory answer is found. The title of the book includes “Dreams” and “Self.” Dreams do take up several chapters, but neither self nor dreams are well integrated into the material, and although there is new information, or at least interesting information, on dreams and dream content, including the sociocultural significance of dreams, the author could have chosen another title; as long as he included “consciousness,” it may have been equally worthwhile.

The Introduction is fascinating but might turn off some readers. It contains headings such as on page 11, “Complexity, Chaos and Nonlinear Dynamics,” and on page 16, “Incompleteness and Computational Complexity.” Section 1 attempts to explore the meaning and function of dreams from various perspectives “in order to demonstrate that the aspects of consciousness that are related to dreaming are multi-varied and co-evolve with nonlinearity.”

Chapter 2 presents an overview of the major aspects of consciousness, with an effort being made to highlight the interdependence of biopsychosocial factors. Later chapters discuss human evolution, making it seem more dynamic than Darwinian natural selection. There is discussion of consciousness related to dreaming and biophysiology, with a social psychology bent to this research. This discussion is too limited. There is also more discussion of sociocultural influences affecting the content of dreams. Toward the end of the book, traditional trends in psychology are developed to show the increasing fragmentation of schools of psychological approach and to allow the author to attempt what is earlier referred to as “a theoretical paradigm shift” (p 22).

The final 2 chapters are more traditionally psychologic, and the last chapter is an excellent discussion of “the ausculating process of’self-organization.’”

The book at times seems like a wild though slow-paced ride. There are parts of the book that require concentration and some lines that must be read several times. At the end of the book, the reader will feel much better acquainted with the concept of consciousness and the different ways that it can be examined. The book is, therefore, worthwhile although not always easy to read.