CONSCIOUSNESS AND CRIMINALITY

To what extent are we responsible for the actions performed in our dreams? If I hurt someone while I’m sleepwalking, should my behavior be excused? In cases of multiple personalities, if one identity commits a crime, should the main identity be accountable? We can raise such questions in courts today due to early psychological research in consciousness and awareness. I will begin by reviewing the early notions that have been explored in psychology, such as sleep, repression and even hypnosis that all tie back to theories of consciousness. I will then review various disorders that involve irregularities in consciousness: sleep disorders such as sleepwalking and sleep apnea, as well as less frequently observed mental disorders, such as dissociative identity disorder. After discussing criminal cases involving consciousness related disorders, I argue that a consensus on treatment of individuals with severe consciousness related disorders should be established.