Sunday, October 14, 2012

General Psychology 6.5

Question: "What is the difference between a nap and a power nap?"


Response: 
Well by definition a nap is " to sleep briefly especially during the day " (Merriam-webster dictionary). So this can be for any period of time depending upon your definition of brief, I guess. A power nap is simply a more specific type of the word. While a nap can be any "brief" amount of time, a power nap is usually twenty to thirty minutes long, although they can be shorter. This short period of time allows the body to become more energized and such while not falling into normal sleeping patterns. If a nap goes longer than thirty minutes then the person will no longer feel energized when they wake up due to the body having already entered the slow wave or deeper stages of sleep. A nap of this length can make you feel less tired, slowed down, and agitated. I think God created us this way so we can be re-energized when we need it, but also so we do not sleep the day away and become lazy. This is actually utilized much more in other cultures than our own. Other cultures will sleep through the hottest parts of the day for energy and being spared from the heat. Many people think our culture could benefit greatly from such a practice.

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