5 Dream Theories Psychology

Question: Freud’s wish-fulffillment

Answer: attempts by the unconscious to resolve a conflict of some sort, whether something recent or something from the recesses of the past. we dream to satisfy our own wishes.

-lacks any scientific support; dreams may be interpreted in many different ways

Question: dreams help us sort out the day’s events and consolidate our memories

-but why do we sometimes dream about things we have not experienced?

Answer: information-processing

Question: physiological function

Answer: regular brain stimulation from REM sleep may help develop and preserve neural pathways

-this may be true, but it does not explain why we experience meaningful dreams

Question: activation-synthesis

Answer: Dream’s may represent the brain’s attempt to make sense of all the random neural activity occurring during REM sleep.

-the individual’s brain is weaving the stories, which still tells us something about the dreamer

Question: cognitive development

Answer: dreams may be part of the development maturation process. Dream content reflects dreamers’ knowledge and understanding.