Dreaming - Psych 380 – Spring 2010

Professor: Tim Kasser, SMAC E 119, x 7283

Purpose of the course: To better understand the nature of dreams and how to work with them.

Texts: S. Freud. On Dreams.

J. Allan Hobson. The Dreaming Brain.

Articles on reserve in SMAC library

Format of the course: The course is primarily a small-group discussion in which members of the class will present their own dreams; we will then use information and theory to discuss how to work with the dreams to understand them and ourselves. Discussions concerning people’s dreams in class will be considered confidential, and members will NOT share personal information about other class members with non-members of the class.

Class requirements: Because the class is offered on only a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading scheme, all assignments will be graded on the same basis. Students will receive a Satisfactory in the class by receiving a Satisfactory on all of the following assignments.

I. Class attendance and participation. Students are expected to participate fully, to regularly attend class, and to be in the room on time (no more than 5 minutes late). Only 2 absences are acceptable (showing up more than 5 minutes late counts as 1/2 an absence). If a student has more than 2 absences, s/he will write a 5-page research paper on a topic about dreaming (approved by the professor and due within 1 week) for each additional 1/2 absence.

II. Student-lead discussion. Students will form groups of 3-4 students to lead discussion for half of the class period. Topics will be approved by the class members early in the term. These presentations are not intended to be lectures, but rather should be interactive and discussion based.

III. Dream Interpretation. Students will complete a final project, due during the final exam period of class. Each student will conduct an in-depth interpretation of one dream or a set of dreams, from at least three of the theoretical perspectives covered in class. Papers will be assessed on the basis of their comprehensiveness in explaining the dream and the appropriate use of theoretical constructs.

IV. Dream Diary. Throughout the term, students will keep a dream diary in which they record their dreams. This dream diary will be turned in to the instructor every few weeks, and he will read a few of the dreams. If the student desires that a particular dream not be read, s/he is to write DO NOT READ at the beginning of the dream, or to cover it with paper. If the student desires a particular dream to be read, s/he is to include a note to the instructor directing him to the particular dream on which the student desires feedback.

V. Regular Naps. Because naps during the day are times when people are especially likely to enter REM, I would like you to try to take at least two naps per week.

Schedule

ate / Topic / Reading / Assignment
3/25 / Syllabus
What’s a dream? / None
3/30 / Psychoanalysis / Freud
4/1 / Psychoanalysis / Freud
4/6 / Jungian Analysis / Reserve – Jung & Whitmont
4/8 / CLASS CANCELLED –
Draw/Paint a dream / NONE
4/13 / Dream Art Show / Edwards – Ch. 6 / Dream Art
4/15 / Biology of Dreams / Hobson – Chs. 6, 9, & 15 / Group A diaries
4/20 / Biology of Dreams / Hobson Chs. 11-14
4/22 / Presentations I & II / TBA / Presentations
4/27 / Gestalt Dreamwork / Polster & Polster / Group B diaries
4/29 / Gestalt Dreamwork / NONE
5/4 / Dream Theatre / Zinker
5/6 / Dream Incubation / Reed / Group A diaries
5/10 –
evening / Dream Incubation campout
5/11 / Dream Incubation / NONE
5/13 / Presentations III & IV / TBA / Presentations
5/18 / Senoi / Garfield / Group B diaries
5/20 / Senoi / NONE
5/25 / Flunk Day contingency / NONE
5/27 / What’s a dream? / NONE
Finals / N/A / N/A / Final Paper