Dualism is entirely different from physicalism and functionalism. Dualism suggests that there is a physical world bound by physical laws, and then there is some kind of other, metaphysical world not bound by the same laws in which our consciousness exists (Marlow 1). Dualism suggests that the physical world and metaphysical are connected through some kind of link, which is what allows us to have sensory experiences through our body.

Different people will have different views on the strength of this connection (Van Gulick 1). Some believe that the connection is one which can be controlled by the conscious mind, for example eliminating desires through meditation. Many religions have the idea of a soul or similar phenomenon, which is, in essence, dualism.

For further reading on dualism, an excellent article can be found here.

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Critique of this theory

Dualism could be viewed as a cop-out. Dualism answers the question of consciousness by stating that there is something unexplainable/unobservable that makes it. Dualism, therefore, also provides no real answer to consciousness, like the other two of the established theories, unless someone is bound to dualism for religious reasons.

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Citation

Marlow, Kristian. “What is Consciousness?” Psychology Today Sussex Publishers, 01 Mar. 2013. Web. 23 Nov. 2015.

Van Gulick, Robert. "Consciousness." The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Ed. Edward N. Zalta. The Metaphysics Research Lab, 14 Jan. 2014. Web. 24 Nov. 2015.