Chapter 5 Objectives
1. Define consciousness and phenomenology, noting how the study of consciousness poses
unique challenges to science.
2. Explain the problem of other minds, noting the dilemma we face when trying to perceive
the consciousness of others.
3. Explain the basic idea of the mind/body problem.
4. Describe the four basic properties of consciousness: intentionality, unity, selectivity, and
transience.
5. Define selective attention and describe its relation to multitasking; note the influence of
using a cell phone while driving on the probability of traffic accidents. (Chapter 4, p. 135)
6. Contrast minimal consciousness, full consciousness, and self-consciousness, discussing the
evidence for each state of awareness.
7. Describe the conditions under which our minds are most likely to wander; identify one
drawback of mind wandering and one potential benefit.
8. Describe the experience sampling technique of studying consciousness; summarize recent
findings on the contents of consciousness, daydreaming, and the default network.
9. Describe thought suppression and the associated rebound effect.
10. Contrast the dynamic and cognitive models of unconscious mental processes as discussed in
lecture.
11. Describe the stages of sleep over the course of a typical night, and discuss how sleep and
wakefulness are part of the cycle of circadian rhythm.
12. List benefits of a good night’s sleep and some of the consequences of sleep deprivation.
13. Describe insomnia, sleep apnea, somnambulism, narcolepsy, sleep paralysis, and night
terrors.
14. Describe findings on dream content and factors that influence it.
15. Distinguish between night terrors and nightmares; note factors related to the frequency and
content of nightmares.
16. Compare the psychoanalytic theory of dreams with the activation-synthesis model.
17. Summarize which brain regions are activated, and which are deactivated, during REM sleep.
18. Define psychoactive drugs; explain tolerance, and physical and psychological dependence.
19. Compare the categories of psychoactive substances, noting how depressants, stimulants,
narcotics, hallucinogens, and marijuana differ in their potentials for overdose, physical
dependence, and psychological dependence.
20. Describe the unintended consequences of drug prohibition and the “war on drugs”; contrast
this with the harm reduction approach and describe evidence supporting it.
21. Describe two theories that have been offered to account for the varied effects of alcohol on
behavior: expectancy theory and alcohol myopia; list factors that influence responses to
psychoactive drugs in general as described in lecture.
22. Define hypnosis; discuss differences in susceptibility to hypnosis.
23. Describe research findings on the effects of hypnosis, with particular attention to
posthypnotic amnesia, recovery of lost memories, and hypnotic analgesia.
24. Describe research findings related to meditation as a practice that can influence brain
activity to produce beneficial psychological effects (p. 563).