"Dreams are the touchstones of our characters." - Henry David Thoreau
Dreams, they can be incredibly satisfying or incredibly horrific….but we all want to know why and what and where…what does it mean? Why do I dream?
All I ever known about dreaming, is that mostly I want to stay in my dream, kissing and smootching away at that tall dark stranger with the strong arms!!
Dreams have fascinated philosophers for thousands of years, but only recently have dreams been subjected to empirical research and concentrated scientific study. Chances are that you’ve often found yourself puzzling over the mysterious content of a dream, or perhaps you’ve wondered why you dream at all.
What is a dream? The very basic question. Your dream can include so many thoughts, emotions and images. Your dream can be extraordinary vivid or vague, filled with joy or filled with pain and fear.
So what is the purpose of our dreams? No consensus could be reached about the purpose of our dreams.
Some researchers suggest that dreams serve no real purpose, while other believe that dreaming is essential to mental, emotional and physical well-being.
All I ever known about dreaming, is that mostly I want to stay in my dream, kissing and smootching away at that tall dark stranger with the strong arms!!
Dreams have fascinated philosophers for thousands of years, but only recently have dreams been subjected to empirical research and concentrated scientific study. Chances are that you’ve often found yourself puzzling over the mysterious content of a dream, or perhaps you’ve wondered why you dream at all.
What is a dream? The very basic question. Your dream can include so many thoughts, emotions and images. Your dream can be extraordinary vivid or vague, filled with joy or filled with pain and fear.
So what is the purpose of our dreams? No consensus could be reached about the purpose of our dreams.
Some researchers suggest that dreams serve no real purpose, while other believe that dreaming is essential to mental, emotional and physical well-being.
Ernest Hoffman, director of the Sleep Disorders Center at Newton Wellesley Hospital in Boston, Mass., suggests that "...a possible (though certainly not proven) function of a dream to be weaving new material into the memory system in a way that both reduces emotional arousal and is adaptive in helping us cope with further trauma or stressful events."
More prominent dream theories include…….
Psychoanalytic Theory of Dreams: Consistent with the psychoanalytic perspective, Sigmund Freud’s theory of dreams suggested that dreams were a representation of unconscious desires, thoughts and motivations. According to Freud’s psychoanalytic view of personality, people are driven by aggressive and sexual instincts that are repressed from conscious awareness. While these thoughts are not consciously expressed, Freud suggested that they find their way into our awareness via dreams. A good read is his famous book… The Interpretation of Dreams.
Other Theories of Dreams:
One theory suggests that dreams are the result of our brain trying to interpret external stimuli during sleep. For example, the sound of the radio may be incorporated into the content of a dream.
Another theory uses a computer metaphor to account for dreams. According to this theory, dreams serve to ‘clean up’ clutter from the mind, much like clean-up operations in a computer, refreshing the mind to prepare for the next day.
Yet another model proposes that dreams function as a form of psychotherapy. In this theory, the dreamer is able to make connections between different thoughts and emotions in a safe environment.
A contemporary model of dreaming combines some elements of various theories. The activation of the brain creates loose connections between thoughts and ideas, which are then guided by the emotions of the dreamer.
Characteristics of Dreams:
1. Dreams Often Feature Intense Emotions
2. Dreams Are Frequently Disorganized and Illogical
3. Strange Dream Content Is Accepted Without Question
4. People Often Experience Bizarre Sensations
5. Dreams Are Difficult to Remember
2. Dreams Are Frequently Disorganized and Illogical
3. Strange Dream Content Is Accepted Without Question
4. People Often Experience Bizarre Sensations
5. Dreams Are Difficult to Remember
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