Victoria has accumulated a large sleep debt. This means that she ________.

• A. has been sleeping more than the recommended amount each night
• B. is experiencing vivid dreams every night
• C. has not been getting enough sleep over a period of time
• D. has developed a consistent sleep schedule

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the concept of 'sleep debt' in psychology, which refers to the cumulative effect of not getting enough sleep over time.
2. Recognize that sleep debt builds up when a person consistently sleeps less than the recommended amount, leading to a deficit that the body tries to recover from.
3. Evaluate each option in the problem: sleeping more than recommended would not create sleep debt; vivid dreams are unrelated to sleep debt; a consistent sleep schedule usually helps prevent sleep debt.
4. Identify that the correct interpretation of sleep debt is that Victoria has not been getting enough sleep over a period of time, causing this accumulation.
5. Conclude that the phrase 'has not been getting enough sleep over a period of time' best describes the meaning of sleep debt.