Professor:
Dreaming - Psych 380 – Spring 2015
TR2s – 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 so as to understand them and ourselves.
Students will have opportunities to be on both ends of the dream
work process, i.e., they will have chances to be in both the
“dreamer” and the “interpreter” roles. 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.
Departmental Goals: Psychology 380 works towards the following
departmental goals. The entire class works towards Goal 7; the
particular assignments that are especially relevant to each goal
are noted with (G#) after each.
G3) Understand the basic theoretical approaches and classic
empirical findings of psychology
G6) Make effective oral presentations that are clear, wellorganized, and interesting.
G7) Demonstrate an empathetic understanding of people of diverse
abilities, experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives.
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 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 (Gs 3 & 6). Students will form
groups of three to make a presentation and engage in a dreamrelated 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. Visual expression of a dream. Students will use some
artistic visual expression to paint or draw a dream.
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. Dream Interpretation (G3). Students will conduct an in-depth
interpretation of one of their own dreams using 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.
VI. 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
3/26
Schedule
Reading
None
3/31
4/2
4/7
4/9
Topic
Syllabus
What’s a dream?
Psychoanalysis
Psychoanalysis
NO CLASS
Jungian Approach
4/14
Dream Art Show
4/16
Biology of Dreams
4/21
Biology of Dreams
4/23
4/28
4/30
Presentations I & II
Flunk Day Contingency
Gestalt Dreamwork
5/5
5/7
5/12
Gestalt Dreamwork
Dream Theatre
Presentations III & IV
Polster &
Polster
None
Zinker
TBA
5/14
5/18
(evening)
5/19
5/21
5/26
5/28
Finals
Dream Incubation
Dream Campout
Reed
None
Dream Incubation
Senoi
Senoi
What’s a dream?
N/A
None
Garfield
NONE
NONE
N/A
Assignment
Freud
Freud
Jung &
Whitmont
Edwards –
Ch. 6
Hobson –
Chs. 6, 9,
& 15
Hobson
Chs. 11-14
TBA
Dream Art
Group A diaries
Group B diaries
Presentations
Presentations
Group A diaries
Group B diaries
Final Paper