Evolutionary+Theory+of+Dreaming

Definition:
The view that vivid REM dreams enable people to rehearse the skills needed to fend off predators Gen Psych, CH 4, pp.119


 * __Two other theories/hypothesis of dreaming__ **
 * Activation-Synthesis Hypothesis of dreaming **
 * Cognitive theory of dreaming **

__ **Information** __ ‍‍advocates of the evolutionary theory of dreaming usggest that vivid, emotionally charged REM dreams serve as a protective function (Revensou, 2000). Such dreams often involve threatening situations in which we may actually find ourselves. For example, an individual may dream that he is driving at 70 miles per hour on a highway when his car's brakes suddenly go out. According to the evolutionary view, such a dream would provide the dreamer with an opportunity to rehearse strategies that may help him manage a similar threat in real life. ‍‍ --- source: Chapter 4 pages 127-128

**Related Pages:**
Activation-Synthesis Hypothesis of dreaming, page 126 cognitive theory of dreaming, page 126

Analogies:
Parents:Sleep Danger:Dreams Teaching:Dreams

Mnemonics:
Mankind = Evolution

In the news:
Numerous theories state that dreaming is a random by-product of REM sleep physiology and that it does not serve any natural purpose. Flanagan claims that "dreams are evolutionary epiphenomena" and they have no adaptive function in the least. "Dreaming came along as a free ride on a system designed to think and to sleep. " Hobson, for different reasons, also considers dreams epiphenomena. He believes that the substance of dreams have no significant influence on waking actions, and most people go about their daily lives perfectly well without remembering their dreams. Hobson proposed the activation-synthesis theory, which states that "there is a randomness of dream imagery and the randomness synthesizes dream-generated images to fit the patterns of internally generated stimulations". This theory is based on the physiology of REM sleep, and Hobson believes dreams are the outcome of the forebrain reacting to random activity beginning at the brainstem. The activation-synthesis theory hypothesizes that the peculiar nature of dreams is attributed to certain parts of the brain trying to piece together a story out of what is essentially bizarre information. [|Wikipedia.org]

In 1966, a study was made of the dreams of 1000 college students. The study showed that four fifths of the emotions addressed in these dreams were negative, while only one fifth were positive. In 411 of these dreams, characters had negative experiences that were out of their control, while there were only 58 dreams in which characters had good luck. About 45% of these dreams had at least one aggressive interaction. The dreamer was much more likely to be the victim of aggression than the aggressor was. In 1970, the dreams of 635 students were studied. Over two thirds of the emotions in these dreams were negative. A 1996 study of 44 subjects found that dreamers reported negative emotions twice as much as positive ones. In a 1983 study of 123 university students, three fifths said that they had recurring dreams. The only type of recurring dream that occurred with any frequency was one were the dreamer was being chased or threatened. The most common dreams of people who suffer from frequent nightmares are dreams of being chased or attacked. [|Meaning of dreams.org]