Professor:
Dreaming - Psych 380 – Winter 2013
TT2s – BORZ 116
Tim Kasser, SMAC E 119, x 7283, tkasser@knox.edu
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. Only 2 absences are acceptable; showing up between
less than 30 minutes late counts as 1/2 an absence; showing up
more than 30 minutes late counts as a full 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 presentation. Students will form groups of 2-3
students to make a presentation and engage in a dream-related
activity for half of the class period. Topics will be approved
by the class members early in the term. These presentations can
certainly involve presenting some information, but mostly should
be interactive and discussion-based.
III. Dream Interpretation. Students will conduct an in-depth
interpretation of one of their own 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 ONE 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.
Date
1/3
Schedule
Reading
None
1/8
1/10
1/15
Topic
Syllabus
What’s a dream?
Psychoanalysis
Psychoanalysis
Jungian Approach
1/17
1/22
Paint our Dreams
Dream Art Show
1/24
Biology of Dreams
1/29
Biology of Dreams
1/31
2/5
Presentations I & II
Gestalt Dreamwork
2/7
2/12
2/14
Gestalt Dreamwork
Dream Theatre
NO CLASS – Prof. out
of town
Presentations III & IV
Dream Incubation
Dream Campout
2/19
2/21
2/25
(evening)
2/26
2/28
3/5
3/7
3/12
Finals
Dream Incubation
NO CLASS
Senoi
Senoi
What’s a dream?
N/A
Freud
Freud
Jung &
Whitmont
None
Edwards –
Ch. 6
Hobson –
Chs. 6, 9,
& 15
Hobson
Chs. 11-14
TBA
Polster &
Polster
None
Zinker
TBA
Reed
None
None
None
Garfield
NONE
NONE
N/A
Assignment
Group A diaries
Dream Art
Group B diaries
Presentations
Group A diaries
Presentations
Group B diaries
Final Paper