Unit 2: Part II: Sample FRQ

States of Consciousness

A. The roots of varied states of consciousness – sleep, hypnosis, and the effects of drug
use – have long been debated among theorists in psychology. Some argue that these
varied states have cognitive or psychodynamic roots. Others argue the roots of these
states lie in the biological mechanisms of the brain and nervous system. Discuss these
alternate points of view regarding the causes/purposes of each of the following varied
states of consciousness:

Sleep and dreams

Hypnosis
The effects of psychoactive drugs

B. Discuss how the experimental process has been and/or is being used to explore the
causes of any two of the above phenomena.

Rubric:

o Students can discuss Part B within a discussion of Part A, as long as the discussion of
the scientific process is distinct from the discussion of the causes/purposes.
o Students must discuss two distinct causes/purposes for each state of consciousness,
one cognitive or psychodynamic and one biological. Discussing only one
cause/purpose per item will result in only one point per item.

Part A: Causes/Purposes
Points 1 & 2: Sleep & Dreams
Students should discuss BOTH
o a cognitive or psychodynamic cause/purpose for sleep and dreams
o Cognitive example: Dreams serve as a mechanism to organize
thoughts and memories accumulated throughout the day or week.
o Psychodynamic example: Dreams reflect the unconscious desires of an
individual
o AND a biological cause/purpose for sleep and dreams
Examples:

o Sleep performs a restorative function for the body, as evidenced by a

lack of sleep leading to decreased immune functioning.
o Dreams are stimulus-free activations of the lower regions of the brain
which are then synthesized by the cortex to make as much sense as
possible.

Points 3 & 4: Hypnosis

Students should discuss BOTH
o a cognitive or psychodynamic cause/purpose for hypnosis
 o Cognitive example: People are more susceptible to hypnosis if they
believe (or think, feel that, or similar cognitively linked language) that
hypnosis is an altered state of consciousness. (any discussion of the
social influence theory of hypnosis, if discussed in terms of cognitions,
is acceptable)
o Psychodynamic example: Hypnosis is an altered state of consciousness
that reveals the contents of the unconscious mind.
o AND a biological cause/purpose for hypnosis
o Examples: The brains of hypnotized people reveal altered brain wave
patterns, which might indicate that the person is experiencing an
altered state of consciousness.

Points 5 & 6: The effects of psychoactive drugs

Students should discuss BOTH
o a cognitive or psychodynamic cause/purpose for the effects of psychoactive
drugs
o Cognitive example: The effects of psychoactive drugs are enhanced
(or influenced) if one believes the drug will cause a certain effect.
(e.g., People will act drunk if they believe they have consumed an
alcoholic beverage.)
o AND a biological cause/purpose for sleep and dreams
o Example: Psychoactive drugs mimic, inhibit, or block reuptake of the
body’s neurotransmitters. (Discussion of specific actions by specific
drugs and neurotransmitters is acceptable.)

Points 7 & 8: Scientific process

Students should discuss TWO of the phenomena addressed by the question in
order to receive both points:
o Sleep and dreams: Students can discuss past research (Aserinsky &
Kleitman’s REM research, Dement’s research at Stanford, Hobson &
McCarley’s activation-synthesis studies, etc.) or how they might set up a
sleep/dreams study.
o Hypnosis: Students can discuss past research (Hilgard’s hidden observer
studies, Spanos’s social influence studies, studies into the effects of hypnosis
in relieving pain, etc.) or how they might set up a hypnosis study.
o The effects of psychoactive drugs: Students can discuss how drug studies are
conducted (using placebos, etc.) to demonstrate how to determine the effects
of psychoactive drugs in any of the three ways described.