Learning Objectives

After studying this chapter, you should be able to:

1. Define consciousness and summarize the functionalist viewpoint regarding the qualities and purposes of consciousness.
2. Define attention and summarize the findings of research regarding the nature of attention, mentioning the "cocktail party phenomenon."
3. Describe the three notions associated with the unconscious, including discussion on the relevance of dichotic listening, blindsight, controlled and automatic processing, the psychoanalytic levels of consciousness, and subliminal psychodynamic activation.
4. Summarize what is known about the circadian rhythm, including the role of the pineal gland and melatonin, and how this is related to the experience of jet lag and issues of rotating shifts in the workplace.
5. Describe the sleep cycle, emphasizing the nature of REM sleep, and what is known about the duration of sleep.
6. Describe the important features of two theories that attempt to explain why we sleep.
7. List and describe three sleep disorders and how they are treated.
8. Beginning with the classic study by Calkins, summarize what is known about the content of dreams, mentioning the phenomena of nightmares, night terrors, and lucid dreams.
9. List and describe four theories about why we dream, mentioning supportive evidence for each theory.
10. Define hypnosis and briefly summarize the history of this phenomenon.
11. Explain the relationship between hypnotic induction and hypnotic susceptibility, and then summarize what is known about how hypnosis affects perception, cognition, and behavior.
12. List and explain two theories about the nature of hypnosis, citing supportive evidence for each theory.
13. Explain what psychoactive drugs are, and how they generally work, mentioning issues such as dependence, tolerance, and withdrawal.
14. Describe and offer examples of the four general categories of psychoactive drugs, emphasizing their effects on psychological functioning.