Dream Theories

Why Do We Dream? Five Theories The Information-Processing Theory The Physiological Function Theory The Cognitive Theory The Activation-Synthesis Theory The Wish Fulfillment Theory

1) Information-Processing Theory Dreams may fix a day’s experiences in our memories. They may also help us work out 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).

2) Physiological Function Theory The brain uses up chemicals during the day These chemicals are replaced at night The brain is not able to be inactive Therefore, dreams keep the brain busy with “old material” while it is being “recharged.”

Dreams keep the brain developing neural pathways (the key building blocks of the brain) For example, the neural networks of newborns are quickly developing; therefore, they need more sleep.

3) Cognitive Development Theory 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: Preschool children report bland images with no story-lines when awoken from REM sleep (if they recall dreaming at all

3) Cognitive Development Theory children aged 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. 20-30% in dreams 80% in dreams

4) The Activation-Synthesis Theory During the night, our brainstem releases random neural activity. The brain tries to make sense of this randomness It makes up a “story” around these bits Logic is shut down during sleep

5) Wish Fulfillment First and foremost in dream theory is Sigmund Freud. Considered the father of psychoanalysis Revolutionized the study of dreams with his book The Interpretation Of Dreams He called dreams “the royal road to the unconscious.”

BUT they get released in different ways by our unconscious According to Freud… We all have desires and urges that are not considered acceptable by society We hold these back – repress them BUT they get released in different ways by our unconscious One way is through our dreams

Freud’s Dream Theory: Wish Fulfillment Dreams function to virtually fulfill: Your unexpressed wishes Your ungratified needs Dreams are combinations of early and recent experiences involve childhood memories and early parental relationships

Freud’s View on How Our Minds Work: Manifest Your dreams have 2 levels: MANIFEST – what you actually dream about LATENT – what your dream symbolically means http://video.about.com/psychology/Sigmund-Freud-s-Id--Ego--and-Superego-Theory.htm Latent

So…What do Our Dreams Tell Us about Ourselves??? Dreams reveal what is going on in your unconscious Your unconscious can act out your hidden desires because you are asleep BUT – your desires can be so odd and disturbing that your mind might still “censor” them This results in your dreams being symbolic Your sleep isn’t disturbed and you don’t wake up as a result of being shocked about the images in your dreams It results in cryptic and confusing dreams, though