Hockenbury Discovering Psychology 5th txtbk

CHAPTER4Consciousnessand Its VariationsEven in Good MenPROLOGUESCOTT HAD SOME SLEEPWALKINGepisodes as he was growing up, but hisparents weren’t overly concerned aboutthem. Sleepwalking is pretty commonamong kids. “I remember Scott gettingdressed at midnight, glassy-eyed, sayinghe had to go to school,” Scott’s motherrecalled. “Once as a big boy—twelve orso—he walked into the living room starknaked. He said, ‘I’m going to school.’ Hisdad put his hands on Scott’s shoulders, andScott resisted him. But nobody thought itwas a big deal.” Besides, Scott wasn’t theonly sleepwalker in the family. Two of hisyounger siblings were also sleepwalkers.Scott’s sister, Laura, remembers anothersleepwalking incident. At the time, she was15 and Scott was five years older. “Scottwas getting ready to get married that Juneand he was coming up on college finals,and he was stressing,” Laura recalled. Theincident happened in the kitchen as shewas eating a late-night snack. Scott wanderedinto the kitchen with a glazed facialexpression. As he reached the back doorand began fumbling with the doorknob,Laura realized that her older brother wassleepwalking. She quickly leaned aroundhim to lock the deadbolt. That’s whenScott grabbed her. “He kind of lifted meup and tossed me,” Laura recalls. “His facelooked almost demonic when he reactedto me. It really scared the hell out of me.”Scott eventually married his high schoolsweetheart, Yarmila. Both of them graduatedfrom college and Scott went on toobtain an M.B.A. During the 1980s, Scottand Yarmila had two children. In the early1990s, the family settled in Phoenix andScott worked as a managing engineer for atechnology company. By all accounts, Scottand Yarmila’s marriage was happy, revolvingaround their children and Scott’s involvementwith a teen ministry program at their church.During most of 1996, Scott was undertremendous pressure at work. A newproduct line that Scott’s team had beendeveloping—a hard drive chip—was notliving up to its promise. “I smelled failurefor months. I had basically come to theconclusion that the company should discontinueour product line,” Scott recalled.“But I would have essentially ended myco-workers’ jobs if the bosses followedthrough on my suggestion.” It was ano-win situation.As the work pressures carried over into1997, Scott often went for night afternight with three hours of sleep or less. Tostay alert and focused at work, he resortedto taking caffeine tablets, 200 milligrams apop. After several nights in a row with verylittle sleep, Scott would “crash” early tocatch up on his sleep.It was at work on January 16 when Scottgot into a heated exchange with one of hisbosses. It was decided that the followingday Scott would meet with his workgroupteam and explain that their project wouldprobably be cancelled.At dinner that night, Scott discussed thetroubling work situation with his family.After dinner, he worked on a software gamehe had been developing for his youth>Chapter Outline• Prologue: Even in Good Men• Introduction: Consciousness:Experiencing the “Private I”• Biological and Environmental“Clocks” That RegulateConsciousness• SleepIN FOCUS: What You Really Wantto Know About SleepFOCUS ON NEUROSCIENCE: TheSleep-Deprived Emotional Brain• Dreams and Mental ActivityDuring SleepFOCUS ON NEUROSCIENCE: TheDreaming Brain: Turning REM Onand OffIN FOCUS: What You Really Wantto Know About Dreams• Sleep Disorders• HypnosisCRITICAL THINKING: Is Hypnosis aSpecial State of Consciousness?• Meditation• Psychoactive DrugsFOCUS ON NEUROSCIENCE: TheAddicted Brain: DiminishingRewardsFOCUS ON NEUROSCIENCE: HowMethamphetamines Erode theBrain• Closing ThoughtsENHANCING WELL-BEING WITHPSYCHOLOGY: Stimulus ControlTherapy for Insomnia• Chapter Review135