Why We Dream
By Janiya Prince, a Senior at iPrep Academy
By Janiya Prince, a Senior at iPrep Academy
Throughout history, people have been curious about the source of dreams. During ancient times, it was thought that dreams contained direct messages from Gods. In Greek and Roman periods, dreams had religious meanings and were considered to “offer a possible connection with the divine within the cultural imagination in the early Empire,” as stated in Juliette Grace Harrison's article in the History of the Ancient World.
I have always had an interest in Psychology, so when I transferred to iPrep in my sophomore year, I took AP Psychology with Mr. Sultz. When we studied the unit on Cognitive Thinking and Dreams, I found it interesting because we all dream. Writing this as a senior, I credit my familiarity with this topic to taking a an elective in a subject that I think is interesting. In fact, most of the information in this article, I learned in AP Psychology.
I have always had an interest in Psychology, so when I transferred to iPrep in my sophomore year, I took AP Psychology with Mr. Sultz. When we studied the unit on Cognitive Thinking and Dreams, I found it interesting because we all dream. Writing this as a senior, I credit my familiarity with this topic to taking a an elective in a subject that I think is interesting. In fact, most of the information in this article, I learned in AP Psychology.
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What Are Dreams?
As defined by Dr. Drerup, a director of the Behavioral Sleep Medicine Program at Cleveland Clinic Sleep Disorders Center, “Dreams are mental imagery or activity that occur when you sleep.” They are unique and differ between/from individuals. Dreams are a combination of fragments of an individual's experiences and emotions. An article by Rebecca Levi, which was reviewed by Dr. Michael Breus, a clinical psychologist and Sleep Medicine expert, states that “although most people “see” dream imagery, some also experience physical sensations or hear sounds in their dreams.” |
A Dream of a Girl Before a Sunrise c. 1830–33 by Karl Bryullov from Wikipedia
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Fun fact: Many people dream in color, but some dream only in black and white.
What is Dream Analysis?
Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) was an Austrian neurologist who is often referred to as the “father of modern psychology.” He is well known for his ideas in psychology like the development of psychoanalysis, his theories on the unconscious, and many other ideas about human behaviors such as dream analysis.
Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) was an Austrian neurologist who is often referred to as the “father of modern psychology.” He is well known for his ideas in psychology like the development of psychoanalysis, his theories on the unconscious, and many other ideas about human behaviors such as dream analysis.
Sigmund Freud by VeryWell Mind
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As stated by Dr. Saul Mcleod, the founder and content writer/editor of Simply Psychology, Sigmund Freud considered dreams to be “the royal road to the unconscious.” His theory of dream interpretation was based on the idea that unconscious desires and conflicts are related/connected to dreams.
Kendra Cherry, a Psychosocial Rehabilitation Specialist from Verywell Mind, a website dedicated to reliable up-to-date information on mental health topics, further elaborates in an article “Why Do We Dream?” Freud's theory of dreams suggests that “dreams represent unconscious desires, thoughts, wish fulfillment, and motivations.” Freud believed that individuals could acquire insight into their unconscious brains and get a better understanding of their emotions/thoughts/feelings through the interpretation of symbols and themes in dreams. |
Why Do We Dream?
There is no definite answer as to why we dream. There is a lot of debate regarding why people dream. Cherry lists prominent dream theories that contribute to the function of dreaming such as: processing emotions, expressing our deepest desires, consolidating memories, and gaining practice confronting potential dangers.” Some theories suggest that it serves to help build memory and some suggest that it serves no purpose at all. Experts continue to research and discover its purpose; however, it is impossible to prove the theory of why we dream.
There is no definite answer as to why we dream. There is a lot of debate regarding why people dream. Cherry lists prominent dream theories that contribute to the function of dreaming such as: processing emotions, expressing our deepest desires, consolidating memories, and gaining practice confronting potential dangers.” Some theories suggest that it serves to help build memory and some suggest that it serves no purpose at all. Experts continue to research and discover its purpose; however, it is impossible to prove the theory of why we dream.
When Do Dreams Occur?
Most dreaming happens during REM (Rapid-eye-movement) Sleep. Although it can occur at any stage of sleep, they are “most prolific and intense” during the REM stage according to sleepfoundation.org. During the REM stage of sleep, the brain is most active and dreams tend to be more “vivid and/or bizarre”, as stated by Jay Summer in “What is REM Sleep and How Much Do You Need?” and medically reviewed by Dr. Abhinav Singh, Sleep Physician.
Most dreaming happens during REM (Rapid-eye-movement) Sleep. Although it can occur at any stage of sleep, they are “most prolific and intense” during the REM stage according to sleepfoundation.org. During the REM stage of sleep, the brain is most active and dreams tend to be more “vivid and/or bizarre”, as stated by Jay Summer in “What is REM Sleep and How Much Do You Need?” and medically reviewed by Dr. Abhinav Singh, Sleep Physician.
Stages of sleep by Web MD
- Fun Fact: Most people dream about two hours a night
What are the Different Types of Dreams?
In a article in Healthline by Jamie Elmer and medically reviewed by Timothy J.Legg,PhD,PsyD, defines the types of dreams:
Lucid Dreams: when a dreamer is conscious of dreaming and is able to influence it
Nightmare: When one experiences fear, distress, or anxiety.
Recurring Dreams: Dreams that a person repeatedly experiences (often has similar themes or plots)
Prophetic dreams: Dreams that are believed to predict the future
Day Dreams: Imaginative thoughts or scenarios that occur when a person is awake
In a article in Healthline by Jamie Elmer and medically reviewed by Timothy J.Legg,PhD,PsyD, defines the types of dreams:
Lucid Dreams: when a dreamer is conscious of dreaming and is able to influence it
Nightmare: When one experiences fear, distress, or anxiety.
Recurring Dreams: Dreams that a person repeatedly experiences (often has similar themes or plots)
Prophetic dreams: Dreams that are believed to predict the future
Day Dreams: Imaginative thoughts or scenarios that occur when a person is awake
Dreams are a collection/series of images, feelings, and sensations that take place in our minds as we sleep. Everyone dreams, regardless of age, gender, or culture. They are a natural part of the sleeping process. Although the exact significance of dreams is not fully understood, it is clear that it has an impact on the brain and mental health. The content of dreams varies by individual and can be affected by a multitude of elements.
Works Cited
Cherry, Kendra. “Why Do We Dream? Top Dream Theories.” Verywell Mind, 14 October 2022, https://www.verywellmind.com/why-do-we-dream-top-dream-theories-2795931.
“Dreams: What Are Dreams and Why Do We Have Them.” The Sleep Doctor, 13 December 2022, https://thesleepdoctor.com/dreams/.
“Dreams: What They Are and What They Mean – Cleveland Clinic.” Cleveland Clinic, 15 June 2022, https://health.clevelandclinic.org/dreams-and-dreaming/.
“Dreams: Why We Dream & How They Affect Sleep.” Sleep Foundation, https://www.sleepfoundation.org/dreams.
“Freud's Dream Interpretation: A Different Perspective Based on the Self-Organization Theory of Dreaming.” Frontiers, 6 August 2018, https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01553/full.
Harrisson, Juliette Grace. “Cultural memory and imagination: dreams and dreaming in the Roman Empire 31 BC – AD 200.” History of the Ancient World, 4 October 2014,https://www.historyoftheancientworld.com/2014/10/cultural-memory-and-imagination-dreams-and-dreaming-in-the-roman-empire-31-bc-ad-200-2/.
Legg, Timothy J., and Raj Dasgupta. “10 Types of Dreams and What They May Indicate.” Healthline, 20 May 2020, https://www.healthline.com/health/types-of-dreams.
“Stages of Sleep: REM and Non-REM Sleep Cycles.” WebMD, https://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/sleep-101.
“Why We Dream and the Role They Play.” Cleveland Clinic, 18 August 2022, https://health.clevelandclinic.org/why-do-we-dream/.
Cherry, Kendra. “Why Do We Dream? Top Dream Theories.” Verywell Mind, 14 October 2022, https://www.verywellmind.com/why-do-we-dream-top-dream-theories-2795931.
“Dreams: What Are Dreams and Why Do We Have Them.” The Sleep Doctor, 13 December 2022, https://thesleepdoctor.com/dreams/.
“Dreams: What They Are and What They Mean – Cleveland Clinic.” Cleveland Clinic, 15 June 2022, https://health.clevelandclinic.org/dreams-and-dreaming/.
“Dreams: Why We Dream & How They Affect Sleep.” Sleep Foundation, https://www.sleepfoundation.org/dreams.
“Freud's Dream Interpretation: A Different Perspective Based on the Self-Organization Theory of Dreaming.” Frontiers, 6 August 2018, https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01553/full.
Harrisson, Juliette Grace. “Cultural memory and imagination: dreams and dreaming in the Roman Empire 31 BC – AD 200.” History of the Ancient World, 4 October 2014,https://www.historyoftheancientworld.com/2014/10/cultural-memory-and-imagination-dreams-and-dreaming-in-the-roman-empire-31-bc-ad-200-2/.
Legg, Timothy J., and Raj Dasgupta. “10 Types of Dreams and What They May Indicate.” Healthline, 20 May 2020, https://www.healthline.com/health/types-of-dreams.
“Stages of Sleep: REM and Non-REM Sleep Cycles.” WebMD, https://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/sleep-101.
“Why We Dream and the Role They Play.” Cleveland Clinic, 18 August 2022, https://health.clevelandclinic.org/why-do-we-dream/.
