DreamsDreamsDreamsDreams

Do bDo béébbéés (babies) dream?s (babies) dream? Do animals dream?Do animals dream?

Why don’t people Why don’t people remember their dreams?remember their dreams?

Why do we dream?Why do we dream?

I. I. Psychoanalytic Theory of Sigmund FreudPsychoanalytic Theory of Sigmund Freuda.a. Dreams are disguised symbols Dreams are disguised symbols

of unconscious repressed of unconscious repressed desiresdesires

b.b. Wish-fulfillmentWish-fulfillment for instinctive, for instinctive, but socially or personally but socially or personally unacceptable, impulses to rise unacceptable, impulses to rise to the surface of consciousnessto the surface of consciousness

c.c. Consist of the Consist of the manifest manifest contentcontent – what you can recall, – what you can recall, and the and the latent contentlatent content – the – the “real” hidden meaning“real” hidden meaning

“Dreams are the royal road to the unconscious”

Examples: Examples: manifest manifest contentcontent of cigars, of cigars, trains, guns, unopened trains, guns, unopened umbrellas may umbrellas may latentlylatently be phallic symbols be phallic symbols (representing male (representing male genitals); circular genitals); circular objects and cavities objects and cavities such as boxes, and such as boxes, and tunnels represent tunnels represent female anatomyfemale anatomy

d.d. However, it may be only “day However, it may be only “day residue” – leftover memories residue” – leftover memories of everyday elements that of everyday elements that enter our dreamsenter our dreams

e.e. It is the job of the It is the job of the psychoanalyst to interpret the psychoanalyst to interpret the contentcontent

f.f. Explains why we forget Explains why we forget dreams through the dreams through the repression repression hypothesishypothesis – forgetting is a – forgetting is a defensive act to keep you from defensive act to keep you from facing your desires and fearsfacing your desires and fears

g.g. Hard to scientifically test Freud’s theoryHard to scientifically test Freud’s theory

h.h. Criticized for too much emphasis on sexCriticized for too much emphasis on sex

II. Biological View: Activation-Synthesis II. Biological View: Activation-Synthesis Theory (McCarley & Hobson) -Theory (McCarley & Hobson) -

Claims that dreams have no real psychological Claims that dreams have no real psychological significance, but are by-products of random significance, but are by-products of random stimulation of brain cellsstimulation of brain cells

ActivationActivation – the pons sends nerve impulses for – the pons sends nerve impulses for various activities such as running, laughing, various activities such as running, laughing, hearing, etc.hearing, etc.

Synthesis – Synthesis – the cortex areas associated with the cortex areas associated with these impulses try to make sense of this by these impulses try to make sense of this by manufacturing dreamsmanufacturing dreams

c.c. Dreams are stories to keep ourselves asleep Dreams are stories to keep ourselves asleepd.d. May serve a function in learning and May serve a function in learning and

memory, as well as brain development and memory, as well as brain development and maintenancemaintenance

e.e. No need to interpret dreams, since they are No need to interpret dreams, since they are biological in naturebiological in nature

f.f. Salience hypothesisSalience hypothesis – we forget the – we forget the dreams because they have little real dreams because they have little real meaning and are psychologically meaning and are psychologically unimportant unimportant

g.g. Also, parts of the brain that are involved in Also, parts of the brain that are involved in the formation of new memories are less the formation of new memories are less activeactive

III. Cognitive View: “Problem Solving”III. Cognitive View: “Problem Solving”a.a. Dreams are a form of Dreams are a form of

information processing, information processing, helping us sift and sort our helping us sift and sort our everyday experiences and everyday experiences and thoughtsthoughts

b.b. People’s dreams reflect their People’s dreams reflect their problems, and thus may problems, and thus may offer time to solve themoffer time to solve them

c.c. Dreams may be a time of Dreams may be a time of creativity and inventioncreativity and invention

Examples of CreativityExamples of Creativity

Sewing machine’s Sewing machine’s inventor claimed to be inventor claimed to be inspired by a dreaminspired by a dream

Jack Nicklaus discovered Jack Nicklaus discovered a new golf gripa new golf grip

Kekule discovered the Kekule discovered the molecular structure of molecular structure of benzene through a dreambenzene through a dream

McCartney claims to have McCartney claims to have written “Yesterday” from a written “Yesterday” from a dreamdream

d.d. People trying to change a behavior People trying to change a behavior (quit smoking, overeating, etc.) often (quit smoking, overeating, etc.) often dream of doing the behavior and dream of doing the behavior and feeling guilty; these people are more feeling guilty; these people are more likely to succeed in quitting – known likely to succeed in quitting – known as the DAMIT experience (as the DAMIT experience (DDreams reams of of AAbsent bsent MIMInded nded TTransgression)ransgression)

e.e. You are the best person to interpret You are the best person to interpret the dream, since you best know the the dream, since you best know the problemproblem

f.f. Interference hypothesisInterference hypothesis – – forgetting dreams is a normal forgetting dreams is a normal cognitive process; new dreams, and cognitive process; new dreams, and thoughts when you awaken, thoughts when you awaken, interfere with your memoryinterfere with your memory