A sequence of images, emotions, and thoughts passing through a sleeping person’s mind.

Daydreams Occur during normal, waking, conscious states Occur during normal, waking, conscious states Referred to as stream of consciousness Referred to as stream of consciousness Thoughts usually do not pertain to the task at hand Thoughts usually do not pertain to the task at hand Usually involves unsolved problems, wishes and desires, future plans and expectations, and fantasies Usually involves unsolved problems, wishes and desires, future plans and expectations, and fantasies

Why do we daydream? The mind is continually engaged in processing information. When a person encounters a demanding or critical external situation, inputs from the physical and social environment take priority. When the demands of processing environmental input becomes more manageable, memory inputs will be processed instead. The mind is continually engaged in processing information. When a person encounters a demanding or critical external situation, inputs from the physical and social environment take priority. When the demands of processing environmental input becomes more manageable, memory inputs will be processed instead. They can help us prepare for future events. They can help us prepare for future events. They can nourish our social development. They can nourish our social development. They can substitute for impulsive behavior. They can substitute for impulsive behavior.

Dream Research When we discovered the different stages of sleep, our dream research really took off! WHY?REM The link between REM sleep and dreaming has opened up a new era of dream research.

A New Way of Looking at Dreams… Dreams are conventionally defined as mental experiences during REM sleep that are often based in vivid imagery, have a story-like quality, are often bizarre, and seem real to the dreamer. Dreams are conventionally defined as mental experiences during REM sleep that are often based in vivid imagery, have a story-like quality, are often bizarre, and seem real to the dreamer. Many recent theorists have, however, questioned almost every aspect of this definition. Many recent theorists have, however, questioned almost every aspect of this definition. We know now that people dream in non-REM too, although the dreams are less story-like and vivid in imagery. We know now that people dream in non-REM too, although the dreams are less story-like and vivid in imagery. Also, recent research shows that content is usually not bizarre, and that dreamers are often aware that they are dreaming. Also, recent research shows that content is usually not bizarre, and that dreamers are often aware that they are dreaming. Thus, the scientific conceptualization of dreaming is changing. Thus, the scientific conceptualization of dreaming is changing.

The Content of Dreams Research shows that the content of dreams is usually familiar. Research shows that the content of dreams is usually familiar. Freud said that the contents of waking life tend to spill into dreams; he called this “day residue.” Freud said that the contents of waking life tend to spill into dreams; he called this “day residue.” Common themes in dreams include things like falling, being pursued, trying repeatedly to do something, school, sex, being late, eating, being frightened, etc. Common themes in dreams include things like falling, being pursued, trying repeatedly to do something, school, sex, being late, eating, being frightened, etc. 1. Negative Emotional Content: 8 out of 10 dreams have negative emotional content. 2. Failure Dreams: People commonly dream about failure, being attacked, pursued, rejected, or struck with misfortune. 3. Sexual Dreams: Contrary to our thinking, sexual dreams are sparse. Sexual dreams in men are 1 in 10; and in women 1 in 30.

Exploring the Dream World Lucid Dreams Lucid Dreams –Dreams in which the individual knows they are dreaming & feel as though they are conscious –Some even say they can control the action in these dreams (scriptwriter) Can we induce a lucid dream? This website seems to think so. Follow their directions and see if you can make one happen for you!

Why Do We Dream? Five Theories 1. The Information-Processing Theory 2. The Physiological Function Theory 3. The Cognitive Theory 4. The Activation-Synthesis Theory 5. The Wish Fulfillment Theory

Cartwright’s Information- Processing Theory

Information-Processing Theory Dreams may help sift, sort, understand, and fix a day’s experiences in our memories. Dreams may help sift, sort, understand, and fix a day’s experiences in our memories. They may also help us work out unsolved problems. We go to bed with a problem, and when we wake up the problem is solved (or forgotten, which may be a solution in itself). They may also help us work out unsolved problems. We go to bed with a problem, and when we wake up the problem is solved (or forgotten, which may be a solution in itself). When we are under stress or depressed, we sleep longer, and the amount of time spent in REM increases. This fact strongly suggests that we are working on the things that are worrying us while we dream. When we are under stress or depressed, we sleep longer, and the amount of time spent in REM increases. This fact strongly suggests that we are working on the things that are worrying us while we dream.

Information-Processing Theory: Dreams as reflections of current concerns Dreams reflect the ongoing conscious preoccupations of waking life (concerns over relationships, work, sex, or health) Dreams reflect the ongoing conscious preoccupations of waking life (concerns over relationships, work, sex, or health) Dreams are more likely to contain material related to a person’s current concerns than chance would predict. Dreams are more likely to contain material related to a person’s current concerns than chance would predict. –Students dream about exams –Instructors dream of forgetting lecture notes Males and females appear to dream about similar issues now that lives and concerns of the two sexes have become similar. Males and females appear to dream about similar issues now that lives and concerns of the two sexes have become similar. –Women  children, clothes, household objects –Men  weapons, violence, sex, achievement

Physiological Function Theory

Brain chemicals are used up during the day (notice how hard it is to study after a long, hard day). Because the brain cannot remain completely inactive while it replenishes these chemicals, dreams keep the brain busy with old material (versus new material, which takes more chemicals to process) while it is being “recharged.” Brain chemicals are used up during the day (notice how hard it is to study after a long, hard day). Because the brain cannot remain completely inactive while it replenishes these chemicals, dreams keep the brain busy with old material (versus new material, which takes more chemicals to process) while it is being “recharged.”

Physiological Function Theory Dreams provide the sleeping brain with periodic stimulation to develop and preserve neural pathways. Neural networks of newborns are quickly developing; therefore, they need more sleep. Dreams provide the sleeping brain with periodic stimulation to develop and preserve neural pathways. Neural networks of newborns are quickly developing; therefore, they need more sleep.

The Cognitive Theory

Dreams – A Sign of Cognitive Development Some researchers argue that we dream as a part of brain maturation and cognitive development. Some researchers argue that we dream as a part of brain maturation and cognitive development. Children’s dreams appear to differ from those of adults: Children’s dreams appear to differ from those of adults: – Preschool children report bland images with no story- lines when awoken from REM sleep (if they recall dreaming at all – children under the age of 9-11 report dreaming only 20-30% of the time when awoken from REM sleep, as opposed to an adult’s 80% of the time). – Between 5 and 8, children begin to report dream narratives, but these are not well developed. – Adult-like dreams develop at around 11-13, suggesting that dreaming is a cognitive ability that develops gradually.

Hobson and McCarley’s Activation-Synthesis Theory

The Activation-Synthesis Theory During the night, our brainstem releases random neural activity. During the night, our brainstem releases random neural activity. This theory suggests that dreaming results from the cortical synthesis and interpretation of these neural signals activated in the lower part of the brain. This theory suggests that dreaming results from the cortical synthesis and interpretation of these neural signals activated in the lower part of the brain. The brain tries to make sense of the random bits and pieces of information that are appearing, so it makes up a “story” to fit them. The brain tries to make sense of the random bits and pieces of information that are appearing, so it makes up a “story” to fit them. At the same time, brain regions that handle logical thought and sensation from the external world are shut down. This would account for why we so often put odd things together in a dream. At the same time, brain regions that handle logical thought and sensation from the external world are shut down. This would account for why we so often put odd things together in a dream.

Activation Synthesis Instructor’s Notes Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. PowerPoint® 2000 or better with Flash® plug-in required to view animations. Right-click on animation for playback controls.

Freud’s Wish Fulfillment Theory

Wish Fulfillment  Sigmund Freud suggested that dreams provide a psychic safety valve to discharge unacceptable feelings. The dream’s manifest (apparent) content may also have symbolic meanings (latent content) that signify our unacceptable feelings.  Dreams are the key to understanding our inner conflicts (ideas and thoughts that are hidden in our unconscious).  Dreams provide insight into desires, motives, & conflicts of which we are unaware  “Royal road to the unconscious”  We are able to express our unconscious wishes & desires, which are often sexual or violent in nature. People in Western cultures pay little attention to dreams as meaningful messages in their lives, while people from many non-Western cultures are likely to view dreams as important information about themselves, the future, or the spiritual world. People in Western cultures pay little attention to dreams as meaningful messages in their lives, while people from many non-Western cultures are likely to view dreams as important information about themselves, the future, or the spiritual world.

Manifest Content Aspects of a dream we consciously experience (the remembered storyline of a dream) Aspects of a dream we consciously experience (the remembered storyline of a dream)

Latent Content Unconscious wishes and thoughts being expressed symbolically (the underlying meaning of a dream). Unconscious wishes and thoughts being expressed symbolically (the underlying meaning of a dream). Dream Interpretation

Symbolic Dreams –Dreams’ messages that produce anxiety must be disguised in order to prevent waking –People and objects may be represented by other people or objects (symbols) Father by a brother/human body by a house Father by a brother/human body by a house –Freud warned against simpleminded translation of symbols Not everything in a dream is symbolic Not everything in a dream is symbolic –“Sometimes, a cigar is only a cigar” Consider the dreamer’s waking life and their associations to the dream’s contents Consider the dreamer’s waking life and their associations to the dream’s contents

Dream Theories Summary Watch “Why Do We Dream?” on youtube for a good discussion of sleep and dream theories: ch?v=7GGzc3x9WJU&feature =player_embedded ch?v=7GGzc3x9WJU&feature =player_embedded

Figure 5.14 Three theories of dreaming Figure 5.14: Three theories of dreaming. Dreams can be explained in a variety of ways. Freud stressed the wish-fulfilling function of dreams. Cartwright emphasizes the problem-solving function of dreams. Hobson and McCarley assert that dreams are merely a by-product of periodic neural activation. All three theories are speculative and have their critics.

The Fleeting Nature of Dreams