A hypothesis must also be falsifiable That is, there must be a possible negative answer For example, if I hypothesize that all green apples are sour, tasting one that is sweet will falsify the hypothesis Note, however, that it is never possible to prove that a hypothesis is absolutely true

A scientific statement is one that could possibly be proven wrong Such a statement is said to be falsifiable Notice that a falsifiable statement is not automatically wrong However a falsifiable statement always remains tentative and open to the possibility that it is wrong

Deduction involves the process of falsification Falsification is a particular specialized aspect of hypothesis testing It involves stating some output from theory in specific and then finding contrary cases using experiments or observations

Is Freudian psychology supported by evidence? For this reason, Freud’s theory is unfalsifiable – it can neither be proved true or refuted For example, the unconscious mind is difficult to test and measure objectively Overall, Freud’s theory is highly unscientific

Causes a Loss of Consciousness

• Vasovagal syncope
• Postural hypotension
• Dehydration
• Blood pressure drugs
• Diseases of the nerves of the legs in older people (especially with diabetes or Parkinson’s disease)
• A migraine attack
• The lowering of sugar in the blood, or hypoglycaemia
• Alcohol consumption and abuse of other drugs

Loss of consciousness is a partial or complete loss of the perception of yourself and all that around you When the loss of consciousness is temporary and there is a spontaneous recovery, that is to say, “a blackout”, in medical terms it is known as a syncope

Feeling lightheaded and weak and having the sensation of spinning are warning signs of fainting If you notice any of these signs, sit and put your head between your knees to help get blood to your brain You could also lie down to avoid injury due to falling Don’t stand up until you feel better

Psychogenic blackouts: resulting from stress or anxiety Psychogenic blackouts occur most often in young adults They may be very difficult to diagnose

Passing Out A blackout is not the same as “passing out,” which means either falling asleep or losing consciousness from drinking too much During a blackout, a person is still awake but their brain is not creating new memories

For example, the sight of blood, or extreme excitement, anxiety or fear, may cause some people to faint This condition is called vasovagal syncope Vasovagal syncope happens when the part of your nervous system that controls your heart rate and blood pressure overreacts to an emotional trigger

During a manic episode, people with bipolar disorder can have what’s called a bipolar blackout During a blackout, the individual is not aware of their surroundings or actions and has trouble remembering them afterward