Your best friend's birthday is coming up and you ought to buy her a present. Your ability to consider what things she has, how she might react to what you get her, and how you are going to pay for her present, are all made possible by the ________ function of consciousness.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The planning function of consciousness allows you to consider future actions and their implications, such as buying a present for your friend, how she might react, and how you will pay for it.  One function of consciousness is to make us stop, think, and consider alternatives based on past knowledge, and imagine the consequences of each alternative. We suppress strong desires if they conflict with moral, ethical, or practical concerns, and use knowledge of the past and expectations of the future to influence current decisions.

Your Best Friend's Birthday Is Coming Up and You Ought