We are all dreamers; whether it’s daydreaming while at work, or having unique and interesting dreams when we sleep. Dreaming is still one of the great ‘unsolved’ mysteries of science however. There is still a lot of research being conducted around dreaming, and the biggest question of all – ‘Why Do We Dream’ remains unanswered. The only way to study dreams, even now, is to ask the dreamer themselves. However, one thing we know for sure is that the vast majority of humans dream every night of their lives.
Some scientists and researchers believe that dreaming may have evolved for physiological reasons and is linked neuronal activity in the brain that occurs when we sleep. Many believe the key lies in further study into REM sleep, while others suggest that dreams are simply a meaningless by-product of this complex biological process.
One of the leading authorities on dreaming, Rosalind Cartwright PhD, believes that dreams are a way of the brain incorporating memories, solving problems and dealing with emotions. As such, Dr. Cartwright (a Professor and Chairman of Psychology at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago) believes that dreams are important part of our emotional health.
When studying men’s dreams, scientists found that 70% of the characters that appeared in their dreams were other men. Women’s dreams meanwhile contain an equal number of men and women. As you would imagine, men generally had more aggressive feelings and themes in their dreams than women. Children on the other hand, started with fairly non-aggressive dreams in general, but saw an increase when they hit their teens.
Sociologists have found parallels with sleep/dream research and current theories on gender and gender role comparisons in aggressive behaviour. The latest dream thinking suggests that a there is continuity between our conscious, waking personalities and the unconscious traits and features of our dreams.
Interesting Dream Facts
• Dream interpretations date back to around 3000-4000 BC, when they were documented on clay tablets. People believed that dreams were the result of spirits trying to contact them.
• The Bible has over seven hundred references to dreams.
• The Greeks and Romans believed that dreams contained messages from the Gods or the dead. They also believed dreams had the power to predict the future. Such was their importance that political and military leaders had their own dream interpreters to help with war strategy!
• The healing power of dreams was a main focus of the Helllenistic period. The ill were sent to sleep in special temples, as people believed they would be sent cures through their dreams.
• In Egyptian times, people who had vivid or significant dreams were believed to be blessed and considered special, while those who could interpret dreams were seen as divinely gifted.
• The Chinese believed that when you sleep, the soul leaves the body and enters the dream world. If a person was suddenly awoken from their slumber, the soul may fail to return to the body and be lost forever!
• In the Middle Ages, dreams were seen as a sign of the devil. When you were at your most vulnerable (i.e. sleeping), the devil could fill you mind with evil thoughts and mislead you down a ‘wrong path’.
Themes in Dreams
The most common themes in dreams, according to the latest studies, include:
Being chased
Sexual experiences
Falling
Being late for important events
Relatives/Friends dying
Flying
Exam Failure
Motoring accidents
A high percentage of dreams are also set at school or work, whilst around twelve percent of people dream only in black and white. Despite what the media and other sources may tell you, dreams of a sexual nature are not as prevalent as you would expect. In fact there is little difference between the sexual content of men and women’s dreams. Young to mid-teens are the most likely to have dreams containing sexual imagery or suggestion, but even then, they often only occur less than 10% of the time.
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