Dreams States of Consciousness Unit 3

Objectives Define dreams. Explain how age and gender affect our dreams. Distinguish the theories for why we dream. Determine which you believe is most accurate. Do we need to dream? Explain the research supported explanation.

Dreams Vivid visual and auditory experiences that occur primarily during REM periods of sleep –When awaken during REM, 80% of the time you remember graphic dreams –50% of non-REM stages involve dreams similar to waking consciousness

What do we dream? Males: committing violence, weapons Women: being victimized, children, etc Kids 2-5: animals, no story line 5-9: more story like 9-15: adult-like dreaming, full plots, longer

Why do we dream? No one knows for sure why we dream, but there are several explanations 1.Freud believed that dreams are unconscious wishes, where the dreamer permits themselves uncensored sexual and aggressive behavior they wish they could do in waking consciousness

2.Dreams allow us to process info. We sort new info and record or pitch it. Many people report “aha” moments in dreams that they translate to life 3.Alan Hobson says dreams are just neural misfires that occur at random and have no connection to anything in life

4.A final dream theory suggests that dreams are extensions of waking consciousness. –They reflect our daily rituals, concerns, etc –They are influenced by pre- sleep events (if you go to sleep thirsty, you may dream you are in a desert with no access to water)

Do we need to dream? YES! In an experiment, test subjects were awakened several nights in a row before they could reach REM During waking consciousness, they were moody, anxious, had difficulty concentrating, and hallucinated. When allowed REM sleep, the REM stage doubled to make up for lost time

Exit Ticket 1.Define dreams. 2.Explain how age and gender affect our dreams. 3.Distinguish the theories for why we dream. Determine which you believe is most accurate. 4.Do we need to dream? Explain the research supported explanation.