Expected Learning 01 /4 Be able to describe why we dream Be able to describe the three main dream theories; psychoanalytic, problem-solving and activation-synthesis.

Does Everybody Dream? Yes! On average a person dreams 4-5 times a night, during every REM cycle. Over 95% of dreams are forgotten People tend to be either low dream recallers or high dream recallers.

Common Dream Actions What do you think are the most common actions in dreams? Rank the following dream actions from most common to least common: Arguing thinking walking, jumping and running Sitting Watching talking flying floating falling.

Dreams during REM sleep tend to follow a storyline The dreamer often feels as if they are experiencing a different world. REM dreams are the ones most likely to be remembered REM dreams can be mundane or dramatic & bizarre. REM dreams often incorporate personal experiences from the previous day or week. Nightmares tend to occur in REM sleep. In dreams, negative emotions are more prevalent than positive emotions. About 88% of people dream in colour The dreamer is usually at the centre of the dream’s storyline. (95% of cases others in dreams are friends/family)

Females tend to dream of males and females equally. Males, dream of other males about 65% of the time and females 35% of the time Male dreams tend to be more aggressive in content than female dreams. The action in male dreams often occurs outdoors, while female dreams are more likely to take place indoors. What is happening in our external environment can be incorporated into our dreams. The most common actions in dreams include running, jumping, sitting and talking. Other common dream actions are flying, floating and falling. cultural background, life experiences, and current concerns shape dream content.

Catch Up Sleep

Psychoanalytic Dream Theory Freud believed that most of our wishes, desires and fantasies are hidden in our unconscious mind We are unaware of them Typically sexual and aggressive in nature. The purpose of dreams is to express those wishes, desires and fantasies we could not express in everyday life. Superego: This is concerned with good morals, and works to counter primal instincts and urges. It strives to be socially acceptable, appropriate and well mannered. Consider this your “shoulder angel”, which works directly against the id. It’s your good conscience. Ego: This is the conscious mind. It works according to the reality principle; it seeks to please the id without causing trouble or long term grief. It’s the balance between id and superego, and is responsible for other psychodynamic features like defence mechanisms. Id: The id acts according to the pleasure principle and simply wants everything now. It is concerned with basic drives and instincts. Food, water, sex and other basic impulses are controlled by the id. It seeks only pleasure without pain, and is essentially your “shoulder devil”.

Psychoanalytic Dream Theory Censor (superego) edits dream content to disguise its true meaning = dreamwork Ego reorganises symbols into a storyline = manifest content Analysis needed to discover the true or hidden meaning = latent content By dreaming in a symbolic form, we reduce our anxiety levels = wish fulfillment.

Psychoanalytic Dream Theory Some dream symbols are unique to an individual Others are universal, recognised and used by most people.

Psychoanalytic Dream Theory -Criticism It has little scientific empirical (based on observation or experiment) support It is too negative, sexual and aggressive in nature It is unclear why the meaning of the dream has to be disguised. Most contemporary psychoanalysts take a more positive approach - not necessarily forbidden sexual or aggressive desires in nature.

Problem Solving Dream Theory Dreams have a purpose and help solve problems. We sort out problems experienced during our waking life. dreams can have meanings, but not deeply hidden. dreams automatically deal with a person’s emotional problems and help solve other problems.

Problem Solving Dream Theory Research has shown: At the start of the night – short dream with negative feelings. The second dream - more complicated storyline but also negative By the third dream - the storyline and its associated emotions became positive. By the fourth/last dream - even more positive, with storylines that indicated the dreamer ‘taking charge’ of a situation. ‘good’ dreamers (well developed storylines, often remembered) are likely to overcome emotional difficulties more quickly than people who are not good dreamers.

Activation Synthesis Dream Theory Other research has shown: Dreams are meaningless and should not be subjected to interpretation. Random activation of neurons occurs during REM sleep Our brain attempts to understand and interpret these signals, using past experiences, memories and knowledge resulting in bizarre and disjointed dreams that make little sense. Explains why external stimuli become incorporated into dreams.

Activation Synthesis Dream Theory Criticism: Not all activity gets interpreted and put in the storyline. Overestimates the bizarreness of dreams - not all dreams are bizarre and unusual Fails to explain the presence of dreams in NREM sleep.