28 Chapter 4. Critical Thinking Questions
- Healthcare professionals often work rotating shifts. Why is this problematic? What can be done to deal with potential problems?
- Do you think attitudes toward drug use are changing over time? If so, how? Why do you think these changes occur?
- Students in high school and college are increasingly using stimulants such as Adderol as study aids and “performance enhancers.” What is your opinion of this trend?
- Consider the cultural and societal influences on sleep patterns and states of consciousness. How do cultural norms, work schedules, and societal expectations impact our sleep habits and the value we place on states of consciousness other than wakefulness? How might cultural variations in sleep practices and beliefs provide insights into the universality or subjectivity of sleep experiences?
- Reflect on the potential implications of sleep disorders and disturbances on individuals and society as a whole. How do conditions such as insomnia, sleep apnea, or narcolepsy affect individuals’ daily functioning and quality of life? What are the social and economic consequences of insufficient sleep and sleep-related disorders? How can increased awareness and education about sleep disorders contribute to better support and treatment for affected individuals?
- Tricia Hersey advocates for rest as a form of resistance against the oppressive forces of capitalism and white supremacy that have shaped many of us to believe that we should be working hard all the time. How can using rest as resistance improve the quality of your life?
