Dreaming

The Definition of Dreaming

Dreams are short visions we have while we are asleep. These can include visual and auditory hallucinations and sensations in our minds. Some dreams may seem more realistic than others, based on a variety of factors. Once we are asleep, our bodies go in and out of something called REM sleep.

When we first drift off into our dreamlike state, and throughout the night, our eyes bounce around until they eventually stop when we enter the non-REM sleep state. This pattern of sleep allows our brains to create short-term memories of our dreams even when they don't make sense (Horton, 2020). Our dreams can consist of prior experiences, desires, or feelings that we may or may not often acknowledge in our day-to-day life.

Boy dreaming, pixabay.com

The Psychology of Dreams

Dreams have been studied by many researchers, scientists, psychologists, and philosophers throughout history. There is no scientific evidence to determine how accurate any theory is when considering dreaming. However, many theories have been introduced by well-known psychologists to provide reasoning and insight as to why we dream.

There are three major theories of dreaming.

Sigmund Freud's Theory of Dreaming

Sigmund Freud believed that dreaming was directly related to our subconscious desires. Freud often believed that our behaviors were influenced by our sexual desires; this was also the case in his dream theory. He stated that we often dream because of our repressed wants and desires that live in the subconscious mind.

Carl Jung's Theory of Dreaming

Carl Jung believed that dreams were directly related to our life experiences. Instead of our dreams being separate from our conscious, he believed that dreams were a way that our conscious and subconscious met.

A Modern Theory of Dreaming

There are a few modern-day theories of dreaming. Some say that dreams are a reflection of our memory. Others have concluded that our brain bounces signals around based on our daily stressors, and life in general.

Different Types of Dreams in Psychology

Did you know that there are multiple types of dreams? The most popular kinds of dreams include nightmares, lucid dreams, recurring dreams, normal dreams, and daydreams. These types of dreams can be influenced by the conscious and unconscious mind (Macduffie & Mashour, 2010).

Nightmares

Nightmares are scary dreams that can begin at a very young age. Usually, they leave behind an uneasy feeling that stays even after you wake up. Nightmares can be more common or likely if you are under high amounts of stress. Stressors that could influence or trigger this type of dream can include traumatic events, accidents, or the loss of a loved one.

Lucid Dreams

Lucid dreaming is the most vivid form of dreaming that has been identified so far. Have you ever fallen asleep, dreamt of something super real, and woken up swearing you were there? You may have been lucid dreaming. Often when we lucid dream, we feel as if we might have contributed to the outcome of our dream. All five senses usually contribute to lucid dreaming.

Recurring Dreams

Dreaming of something happening over and over might be a good or bad thing. Someone could have a recurring nightmare or night terror, which is something that plays over and over again when they fall asleep. Other times, recurring dreams might be positive and delightful.

Normal Dreams

Normal dreaming is pretty self-explanatory. We might have a normal dream and not remember it, but that is because we statistically forget most of our dreams before we even wake up. Normal dreams are less intense than lucid dreams.

Daydreaming

Who knew that daydreaming is a real thing? Daydreaming while we are awake is still considered a type of dream because parts of our brains go inactive for small moments. Daydreaming can be beneficial in reducing stress and enhancing one's mental health and creativity.

Dream Analysis in Psychology

To analyze our dreams, we must know our thought patterns. It is very helpful to keep a dream journal close to your bed if you want to explore your dreams. If you do not write down the dream as soon as you wake up, you will most likely forget what happened.

Psychological Facts about Dreaming

Below are some psychological facts about dreaming!

• Dreams were often considered signs from holy entities.

• Dreaming usually only lasts for a few seconds.

• Some animals are capable of experiencing the same dream-like states that humans do.

• Some dreams are in black and white.

• We forget the majority of our dreams.

• Dreaming can create a warped sense of reality and influence our perception of memories.

• There are common dreaming patterns that have been recognized among humans. Some are death, falling, running, seeing a deceased loved one, being naked, or facing a fear.