Deck 4: Consciousness

Question 1

Who is generally regarded as the father of American psychology and recognized for his contributions to the study of consciousness?

A)Wilhelm Wundt
B)Sigmund Freud
C)William James
D)Alan Rechtschaffen
E)Ernest Hilgard

Answer 1

William James

Question 2

Dr. James Williams, a psychology professor, was speaking to his class about his current state of awareness. In all likelihood he was speaking about the process of

A)divided attention.
B)multitasking.
C)perception.
D)mindfulness.
E)consciousness.

Answer 2

consciousness.

Question 3

The pattern of fluctuations in bodily processes that occur regularly each day are called ______.

A)altered states of consciousness
B)biofeedback loops
C)circadian rhythms
D)homeostatic rhythms
E)ultradian rhythms

Answer 3

circadian rhythms

Question 4

According to the early psychologist William James, consciousness can best be described as

A)the collection of chopped-up bits of mental experience.
B)a fixed state of mental contents.
C)a stream of thoughts.
D)our perception of objects in our visual field.
E)the difference between our thoughts and our experiences of the world.

Question 5

In comparing consciousness to an ever-flowing river, the early psychologist William James was making the point that consciousness involves

A)a stream of thoughts.
B)a constant flow of excitations.
C)changing perceptions of objects we perceive.
D)our perception of objects in our visual field.
E)the change from moment to moment of our inner needs.

Question 6

The SCN (suprachiasmatic nucleus)works to regulate the sleep-wake cycles by means of

A)stimulating the hypothalamus to secrete melatonin.
B)stimulating the pituitary gland to release melatonin.
C)stimulating the pineal gland to release melatonin.
D)triggering the amygdala to activate the sleep cycle.
E)regulating the production of melatonin by the hippocampus.

Question 7

Nadia frequently drives home without paying attention to her route. This is an example of

A)automatic pilot.
B)daydreaming.
C)drifting consciousness.
D)focused concentration.
E)multitasking.

Question 8

In a study reported in the text, Canadian drivers were asked to report distracted driving behaviors. Which behavior was most commonly reported for other drivers?

A)Disciplining children
B)Eating
C)Reading
D)Personal grooming
E)Using a cell phone

Question 9

All but which of the following people are predicted to be experiencing an altered state of consciousness?

A)Lacey, who is in a long-distance marathon
B)Ethan, who is studying for exams
C)Adrienne, who is under hypnosis
D)Will, who is drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana
E)Taylor, who is meditating

Question 10

Daydreaming is most likely to occur during which type of consciousness?

A)divided
B)unconsciousness
C)focused
D)selective
E)drifting

Question 11

Regarding the dangers of divided attention while driving, which of the following statements is FALSE?

A)Drivers are four times more likely to have an accident when they are talking on a cell phone than when they are not.
B)Driving while talking on a phone is about as dangerous as driving while legally drunk.
C)Using a hands-free phone is a generally safe alternative to using a hand-held phone while driving.
D)The increased risk of accident from cell phone usage is due to the loss of concentration from engaging in conversation.
E)Eating, drinking, and interacting with passengers while driving are all dangerous behaviors.

Question 12

Regarding consciousness, which of the following statements is FALSE?

A)Waking consciousness changes regularly throughout the day, ranging from focused awareness to divided consciousness to drifting consciousness.
B)Research on multitasking generally supports the common perception that "to do two things at once is to do neither."
C)Negative ways of thinking act like mental filters in one's consciousness that can skew how a person interprets and reacts to events in their lives.
D)Drifting consciousness often leads to daydreaming.
E)Since altered states of consciousness are produced by taking drugs, people should avoid attempting to change their states of consciousness.

Question 13

Samantha simultaneously performs two different tasks, each of which demands some level of attention. Samantha's state of consciousness is best described as

A)divided consciousness.
B)mindfulness.
C)selective consciousness.
D)drifting consciousness.
E)focused awareness.

Question 14

Jonathan is in a state of focused awareness while he studies for his final exams. Jonathan's consciousness can be described as all but which of the following?

A)fully alert
B)divided attention
C)wide awake
D)completely engrossed in his task
E)paying little attention to distracting internal stimuli

Question 15

Regarding daydreaming, which of the following statements is FALSE?

A)The majority of daydreams have sexual themes.
B)People are more prone to daydream when they are bored.
C)People are more prone to daydream when they are engaged in unstructured activities.
D)Most daydreams involve the mundane tasks of everyday life.
E)Daydreaming is a form of consciousness that occurs during a waking state.

Question 16

Psychologists refer to the state of awareness of ourselves and the world around us as

A)attention.
B)multitasking.
C)consciousness.
D)mindfulness.
E)perception.

Question 17

Which of the following people is experiencing a state of drifting consciousness?

A)Chandler is in the dreaming state of sleep.
B)Phoebe is engrossed in watching a movie.
C)Joey's consciousness changes as he meditates.
D)Rachel is having hallucinations from taking drugs.
E)Ross is daydreaming while he waits to see the dentist.

Question 18

Wylene is able to pay attention to street signs as she drives her pick-up truck, but is not aware of noises coming from the street and other vehicles. Wylene's experience is an example of

A)focused awareness.
B)drifting consciousness.
C)conscious attention.
D)focused consciousness.
E)deep unconsciousness.

Question 19

An area of the brain that regulates sleep-wake cycles is the

A)suprachiasmatic nucleus.
B)amygdala.
C)pituitary gland.
D)hippocampus.
E)corpus callosum.

Question 20

In which state of consciousness should a person's level of awareness or attention be the highest?

A)dreaming
B)drifting consciousness
C)divided consciousness
D)altered consciousness
E)focused awareness

Question 21

Which of the following best describes REM sleep?

A)The deepest level of sleep
B)A state of light sleep with thought-like dreams
C)Dream sleep accompanied by increased muscle activity
D)State of resting quietly with the eyes closed
E)Sleep in which the brain becomes more active but muscle activity is blocked

Question 22

During the past hour, Gaylon has been experiencing slow-wave sleep. Based on this description, which stages of sleep has Gaylon likely experienced during this time?

A)Stages 1 and 2
B)Stages 4 and REM
C)Stages 3 and 4
D)Stages 2 and 3
E)REM and NREM

Question 23

In which stage do you spend the majority of your sleep time?

A)Stage 1
B)Stage 2
C)Stage 3
D)Stage 4
E)REM

Question 24

Beta brain waves are ______, and alpha brain waves are ______.

A)fast and low-amplitude; slow and rhythmic
B)slow and low-amplitude; fast and rhythmic
C)fast and high-amplitude; slow and rhythmic
D)slow and high-amplitude; fast and rhythmic
E)large and rhythmic; slow and rhythmic

Question 25

Regarding sleep cycles, which of the following statements is FALSE?

A)In terms of brain activity, REM sleep is similar to ordinary wakefulness.
B)As the night progresses, the amount of time spent in REM sleep decreases.
C)The difference between Stage 3 and Stage 4 sleep is based on the proportion of delta waves present.
D)During sleep, brain waves vary in terms of intensity as well as speed.
E)During the night, Stage 4 sleep eventually disappears.

Question 26

In terms of brain waves, awake and alert is to ______ as awake and relaxed is to ______.

A)alpha; beta
B)beta; alpha
C)delta; alpha
D)delta; beta
E)beta; delta

Question 27

The hormone melatonin helps synchronize the sleep-wake cycle by means of

A)stimulating the hypothalamus to activate the sleep cycle.
B)triggering the SCN when the amount of light striking the retina declines.
C)traveling to the amygdala to activate the sleep cycle.
D)inducing feelings of drowsiness.
E)inducing alertness just preceding awakening.

Question 28

In a research study presented in your text, participants who learned a word list in the evening before going to sleep and were tested in the morning had better recall of the word list than those who learned the material in the morning and tested in the evening. This research supports the idea that with respect to memory, sleep can be described as serving a(n)______ function.

A)consolidation
B)protective
C)encoding
D)restorative
E)conservation

Question 29

Sleep cycles repeat about every ______ minutes, and the typical adult has ______ cycles per night.

A)60; six to seven
B)60; three to four
C)90; four to five
D)120; two to three
E)90; two to three

Question 30

Jet lag has shown to be associated with all but which of the following?

A)disruptions to the sleep-wake cycle
B)irritability
C)fatigue
D)difficulties in concentration
E)decreases in daydreaming

Question 31

Monica is having a long, detailed dream. In which stage of sleep is Monica most likely to be?

A)Stage 1
B)Stage 2
C)Stage 3
D)Stage 4
E)REM

Question 32

Regarding circadian rhythms, which of the following statements is FALSE?

A)Frequent time shifting can wreak havoc on circadian rhythms.
B)During exposure to light, melatonin production increases, helping us maintain wakefulness.
C)Light entering through the eye helps keep the body clock in sync with day and night.
D)Body temperature follows a circadian rhythm in which temperature falls a few degrees during the middle of the night.
E)Circadian rhythms are found in almost all species, including paramecia and trees.

Question 33

Regarding REM sleep, which of the following statements is FALSE?

A)REM sleep is also called active sleep because the brain is more active during REM than NREM.
B)During REM sleep, muscle activity is blocked almost to the point of paralysis.
C)REM sleep is also called paradoxical sleep.
D)All dreams occur during REM sleep.
E)During REM sleep, a person's eyes dart about under the closed eyelids.

Question 34

Other factors being equal, which of the following people should be hardest to awaken?

A)Mary Esther is in Stage 1 of sleep.
B)Sarah is in Stage 2 of sleep.
C)Randy is in Stage 3 of sleep.
D)Ed has just fallen asleep.
E)None of these; there are no differences in the ability to awaken in the different stages of sleep.

Question 35

Which of the following statements about the SCN (suprachiasmatic nucleus)is FALSE?

A)It is sensitive to changes in the amount of light striking the retina.
B)It stimulates the pineal gland to release melatonin.
C)It is located in the hypothalamus.
D)It signals the amygdala to initiate sleep.
E)It is involved in regulating the sleep-wake cycle.

Question 36

Dr. Washington, a sleep researcher, looks at the EEG output of a participant from a sleep study. When Washington sees sleep spindles on the output, she indicates ______ on the paper.

A)Stage 1
B)Stage 2
C)Stage 3
D)Stage 4
E)REM

Question 37

Compared to dreams during REM, NREM dreams are

A)longer.
B)more frequent.
C)more thoughtlike.
D)paradoxical.
E)both longer and more frequent.

Question 38

Nina's pineal gland has been damaged. She can expect a disturbance in the release of the hormone

A)oxytocin.
B)serotonin.
C)cortisol.
D)melatonin.
E)dopamine.

Question 39

Sleep spindles are to ______ sleep as delta waves are to ______ sleep.

A)stage 1; stage 3
B)stage 3; stage 4
C)stage 2; REM
D)stage 1; REM
E)stage 2; stage 3

Question 40

Sheila is awake and in an alert state. Sheila's brain wave pattern should consist primarily of

A)alpha waves.
B)beta waves.
C)gamma waves.
D)delta waves.
E)small, irregular waves.

Question 41

Kendra has a sleep disorder in which she suddenly falls into "sleep attacks" during the daytime. What is the name of Kendra's disorder?

A)REM sleep disorder
B)Sleep apnea
C)Sleep terror disorder
D)Nightmare disorder
E)Narcolepsy

Question 42

According to the activation-synthesis hypothesis of dreaming, random electrical activity in the ________ is interpreted by the ________ to create a story line.

A)brain stem; cerebral cortex
B)cerebral cortex; brain stem
C)hippocampus; hypothalamus
D)hypothalamus; hippocampus
E)brain stem; thalamus

Question 43

Regarding sleep patterns across the life cycle, which of the following statements is FALSE?

A)Infants and children spend more time in REM sleep than adults.
B)By late adulthood, many people only require about six hours of sleep per night.
C)Contrary to the common perception, most high school students get the recommended amount of sleep for adolescents.
D)The average American sleeps less per night than the recommended amount.
E)Most adults require between seven and nine hours of sleep for their maximum functioning.

Question 44

What is the most common sleep disorder?

A)sleep terror disorder
B)narcolepsy
C)sleepwalking disorder
D)insomnia
E)sleep apnea

Question 45

Your psychology professor argues that dreams represent an attempt by the cerebral cortex to make sense of the random discharges of electrical activity that occur during REM sleep. What perspective best describes your professor's comments?

A)neodissociation theory
B)activation-synthesis hypothesis
C)psychodynamic theory
D)memory consolidation hypothesis
E)psychological dependence hypothesis

Question 46

Some nights Chang has problems falling asleep. Other nights, he wakes up several times during the night and has difficulty returning to sleep. Chang likely suffers from which sleep disorder?

A)insomnia
B)nightmare disorder
C)narcolepsy
D)sleepwalking
E)sleep apnea

Question 47

Who suggested that dreams help us sort through possible solutions to everyday problems and concerns?

A)Ernest Hartmann
B)Publilius Syrus
C)Sigmund Freud
D)William James
E)Alan Rechtschaffen

Question 48

Winston is an eight-year-old child who has recently started having sleep problems. He frequently wakes at night, sitting up in his bed and screaming loudly. His mother reports that he seems dazed, or "out of it," and can rarely remember more than one or two fragmentary dream images that don't seem to make sense. Winston probably is suffering from _____.

A)narcolepsy
B)sleep apnea
C)nightmare disorder
D)sleep terror disorder
E)sleepwalking disorder

Question 49

Which of the following best describes sleep apnea?

A)Repeated episodes of intense fear during sleep causing sudden awakening in a terrified state
B)Sudden unexplained sleep attacks during the day
C)Difficulty falling asleep, remaining asleep, or returning to sleep
D)A state of dreaming in which the dreamer is aware that s/he is dreaming
E)Temporary cessation of breathing during sleep

Question 50

From a Freudian perspective, the purpose of dreams is to

A)consolidate memories and new learning.
B)sort through possible solutions to everyday problems.
C)fulfill underlying wishes.
D)discard unnecessary information.
E)reconcile urges.

Question 51

The protective function of sleep refers to the role of sleep in

A)protecting the organism against disease.
B)protecting the animal from nighttime predators.
C)preventing depletion of bodily resources.
D)preventing the animal from injuring others.
E)protecting the environment.

Question 52

Mr. Grammarcy has been having trouble sleeping at night, and his lack of sleep is beginning to interfere with his ability to function properly during the day. He's concerned that he may lose his job in the next round of lay-offs at his company. He is also having marital problems. He tends to lay awake at night, worrying about these problems and thinking about what he can do to resolve these issues. Based on the discussion in the text, Mr. Grammarcy should understand that _____.

A)worrying increases one's bodily arousal, which can prevent normal sleep
B)daily hassles and concerns do not normally interfere with normal sleep, so he should look for a medical reason for his insomnia
C)when his marital issues are resolved, his sleep pattern will return to normal, regardless of his concerns about his job
D)sleep is a natural function that cannot be forced without medical intervention or biofeedback training
E)sleeping pills, used according to directions, will resolve his sleep problems

Question 53

In Freudian theory, the actual events that occur in a dream are referred to as its ______ content, while the underlying meaning of a dream is its ______ content.

A)unconscious; conscious
B)latent; manifest
C)conscious; subconscious
D)conscious; sexual
E)manifest; latent

Question 54

Which statement best describes effective treatment of sleep disorders?

A)Sleep medications are the most effective short- and long-term treatment for sleep disorders.
B)Sleep medications can be used for long periods of time to treat severe sleep disorders.
C)Cognitive-behavioral techniques are as effective as sleep medication in treating insomnia in the short term, but not in the long run.
D)Cognitive-behavioral techniques are as effective as sleep medication in treating insomnia, and they are more effective in the long run.
E)Unknown; researchers have yet to investigate and identify the best methods for treating sleep disorders.

Question 55

All but which of the following are reasons that investigators have described for the functions of sleep?

A)Protection and survival
B)Energy conservation
C)Consolidation of newly formed memories
D)Restoration of bodily processes
E)Enhancement of ability to alter consciousness

Question 56

Scientists believe that narcolepsy is caused by

A)an overactive thyroid gland.
B)loss of brain cells in the hypothalamus.
C)an underactive thyroid gland.
D)loss of brain cells in the reticular system.
E)substance abuse.

Question 57

Regarding sleep deprivation, which of the following statements is TRUE?

A)Sleep deprivation is relatively uncommon.
B)Sleep deprivation tends to affect older adults but not young adults of college age.
C)People are generally not able to "rebound" from REM deprivation.
D)Loss of sleep impairs reaction times.
E)Even brief periods of sleep deprivation can increase the risk of developing high blood pressure.

Question 58

The textbook describes each of the following functions of sleep EXCEPT for

A)a memory consolidation function.
B)a protective function.
C)an encoding function.
D)a restorative function.
E)an energy conservation function.

Question 59

On many nights, Matilda claims to be able to decide in advance what she will dream about, as well as to be able to control her dreams as they occur. The term _____ is used to describe Matilda's dreams.

A)abnormal
B)precognitive
C)latent
D)manifest
E)lucid

Question 60

Regarding sleep deprivation, which of the following statements is FALSE?

A)Lifestyle factors contribute to many Americans' sleep deprivation.
B)People are generally not able to "rebound" from REM deprivation.
C)Loss of sleep impairs learning ability and memory.
D)Sleep deprivation is one of the most common causes of motor vehicle accidents.
E)Prolonged periods of sleep deprivation increases the risk of developing high blood pressure.

Question 61

During hypnosis, Gail's hypnotist tells her that she will have an increased desire to drink water and eat healthy food. This describes what type of hypnotic experience?

A)hypnotic regression
B)hypnotic analgesia
C)posthypnotic amnesia
D)distortions of reality
E)posthypnotic suggestion

Question 62

Which psychologist can be described as working from the role-playing model of hypnosis?

A)Dr. Amin says, "Hypnosis is a social interaction between a hypnotist and a subject."
B)Dr. Birnbaum says, "Hypnosis is an altered state of awareness characterized by heightened suggestibility."
C)Dr. Chestnut says, "Hypnosis involves a state of dissociated consciousness."
D)Dr. Davison says, "In hypnosis, part of the subject's consciousness remains a hidden observer."
E)Dr. Evans says, "Hypnosis is a trance state."

Question 63

Meditation is useful in treating each of the following EXCEPT

A)high blood pressure.
B)insomnia.
C)chronic pain.
D)diabetes.
E)depression.

Question 64

In general, nightmare disorder occurs in ______ sleep, while sleep terror disorder occurs in ______ sleep.

A)Stage 1; Stage 2
B)REM; Stage 2
C)REM; Stage 4
D)Stage 2; Stage 3 or 4
E)Stage 2; REM

Question 65

Hypnosis can be described by all of the following EXCEPT

A)focused attention.
B)deep relaxation.
C)sleep.
D)heightened suggestibility.
E)an altered state of consciousness.

Question 66

Christiana alters her consciousness through focusing her attention on her breathing to achieve a peaceful, relaxed state. During this state, Christiana attempts to adopt a nonjudgmental state in which she has awareness of the moment. Which technique best describes what Christiana is doing?

A)Hypnosis
B)Transcendental meditation
C)Mindfulness meditation
D)Daydreaming
E)Biofeedback

Question 67

The role-playing model of hypnosis proposes that the effects of hypnosis can best be understood in terms of _____.

A)a social interaction between a hypnotist and a willing person who assumes the role of a "good" subject by following the hypnotist's directions and suggestions
B)a social interaction between a hypnotist and a willing person who enters a trance state that is marked by an increase in their suggestibility
C)a social interaction between a hypnotist and a willing person that leads to a dissociative state on the part of the hypnotic subject
D)a social interaction between a hypnotist and a willing person that leads the hypnotic subject to engage in imaginative responses to the hypnotist's suggestions
E)a social interaction between a hypnotist and a willing person that leads the hypnotic subject to remain detached from the experience, but aware of the experience and everything that happens

Question 68

Regarding sleepwalking disorder, which of the following statements is FALSE?

A)Sleepwalking disorder occurs more often in children than in adults, and about 1 to 5 percent of children have the disorder.
B)Sleepwalking generally occurs during deep, NREM sleep.
C)Awakening a sleepwalker can be harmful.
D)Sleepwalkers do not usually remember their nighttime wanderings.
E)Sleepwalkers can have accidents during their nighttime wanderings.

Question 69

About what proportion of U.S. adults have used an illicit drug at some point in their lives?

A)1/10
B)1/5
C)1/4
D)1/3
E)1/2

Question 70

Regarding hypnosis, which of the following statements is FALSE?

A)Response to hypnotic suggestions has more to do with the person being hypnotized than the hypnotist's skills.
B)Hypnosis has a legitimate therapeutic role in treating a wide range of problems from anxiety to excess weight.
C)Hypnosis can help people cope with stress and pain.
D)Hypnosis can lead people to commit illegal acts that they find repulsive.
E)Most people can be hypnotized to some extent.

Question 71

In hypnosis, reliving of past events is described as

A)posthypnotic suggestion.
B)posthypnotic amnesia.
C)hypnotic analgesia.
D)hypnotic age regression.
E)hypnotic time distortion.

Question 72

______ theory describes hypnosis as a phenomenon in which one's consciousness divides or splits.

A)Neodissociation
B)Role-playing
C)Hidden observer
D)Parapsychological
E)Activation-synthesis

Question 73

Negative and positive hallucinations describe which hypnotic experience?

A)hypnotic age regression
B)hypnotic analgesia
C)posthypnotic amnesia
D)distortions of reality
E)posthypnotic suggestion

Question 74

People who abuse more than one drug at a time are called

A)tolerants.
B)polyabusers.
C)multi-abusers.
D)codependent.
E)psychoactive.

Question 75

Regarding psychoactive drugs, which of the following statements is FALSE?

A)Among adult Americans, marijuana is the most widely used illicit drug.
B)The most commonly used drugs are alcohol and tobacco.
C)About 10 percent of Americans currently use illicit drugs.
D)The most popular reason for using drugs is to change levels of alertness.
E)Psychoactive drugs are chemical substances that act on the brain to affect emotional or mental states.

Question 76

Addison has decided to learn transcendental meditation (TM). She will be given training in _____.

A)how to use a repeated sound to focus her attention
B)how to focus her attention on her unfolding experience
C)how to control her breathing and relax the muscles in her body
D)how to place herself in a state of deep relaxation and heightened suggestibility
E)how to position her body into particular postures to focus her attention

Question 77

Which psychologist can be described as working from a trance state theory of hypnosis?

A)Dr. Amin says, "Hypnosis is a social interaction between a hypnotist and a subject."
B)Dr. Birnbaum says, "Hypnosis is an altered state of awareness characterized by heightened suggestibility."
C)Dr. Chestnut says, "Hypnosis involves a splitting of consciousness."
D)Dr. Davison says, "In hypnosis, part of the subject's consciousness remains a hidden observer."
E)Dr. Evans says, "Hypnosis involves an altered state of awareness characterized by heightened suggestibility."

Question 78

Characteristics of a highly hypnotizable person include all of the following EXCEPT

A)well-developed fantasy life.
B)a tendency toward depression.
C)vivid sense of imagination.
D)tendency to be forgetful.
E)positive attitude toward hypnosis.

Question 79

In meditation, a mantra is a

A)type of dance.
B)sound or phrase.
C)type of song.
D)breathing technique.
E)seating position.

Question 80

Kelsey has a sleep disorder in which she suddenly wakes up in the night with a panicky scream. She is only able to remember fragments of her dream images, and she is dazed and frightened upon awakening. Which sleep disorder does Kelsey most likely have?

A)Sleepwalking disorder
B)Nightmare disorder
C)Narcolepsy
D)Sleep apnea
E)Sleep terror disorder