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.