The Psychology of Dreams and What You Can Learn About Yours

Certainly, there has been a significant amount of research conducted on the topic of human psychology and the connection it has to dreaming. Major names in psychology, such as Freud and Jung, dedicated much of their lives analyzing the many layers of our consciousness, including those that emerge during our nocturnal states. According to them and other researchers, dreams may offer a unique window into the workings of the human mind, potentially revealing more deeply rooted truths, such as our desires and fears.

Dream Psychology

Perhaps you believe you never dream. Maybe you dream vividly every single night. Chances are more likely that it seems that you sometimes dream, while other times you have no recollection of dreaming. Regardless, everyone dreams, even if they don’t remember.

While some people seemingly never dream, the truth is that nearly everyone dreams each night as they sleep. The reason for this occurrence is due to something known as REM, or Rapid Eye Movement. REM can take place several times a night while sleeping and is responsible for triggering the dreaming experience.

Rapid Eye Movement

Sleep happens in phases, with the two, main phases being Non-Rapid Eye Movement and Rapid Eye Movement. These terms have quite literal meanings. Non-Rapid Eye Movement means that there is no rapid movements of the eyes. Conversely, Rapid Eye Movement means that the eyes move rapidly under the eyelids.

N-REM is a much lighter stage of sleep, where we can be easily awakened. Once we reach REM, which takes at least an hour or two, our body becomes temporarily paralyzed. This happens so that we don’t physically act out our dreams.

During REM sleep, the brain becomes highly active, with increased neural activity in the regions responsible for emotion, memory, and sensory processing. This heightened brain activity is believed to be the driving force behind the nature of our dreams (Hobson, 1988). With that being said, this mechanism also helps us to strengthen neural connections in our brains as we process the data of our experiences.

Dream Recall

So, now you may be wondering why some people don’t remember their dreams if, in fact, most of us do dream at night during the REM stage. While there are various reasons as to why some of us can’t recall our dreams, this is usually due to a few reasons, such as:

• Timing: If waking during or immediately after REM, a person is likelier to recall their dreams. If not, they are less likely.
• Early Bird: It’s easier to recall dreams as soon as we wake up. Throughout the day, we may forget that we ever dreamed.
• Sleep Quality: Sleep quality contributes to dream recall. Those with major stress or sleeping disorders may have a more difficult time remembering dreams.
• Brain Damage: Having brain damage in certain areas of the brain, such as the amygdala and the prefrontal cortex, can inhibit the ability to recall dreams (Perogamvros et al., 2013).
• Personality Types: Certain personality types that are less imaginative and don’t prioritize recalling dreams are less likely to remember them.
• Genes: Genetics and brain chemistry can play a role in dream recall, with some people having less neurotransmitter activity during REM.
• Drugs and Alcohol: Drugs and alcohol factor into remembering dreams. Medications for sleeping, depression, and anxiety are often responsible for slowing brain activity during sleep. Recreational drugs may also affect this natural rhythm.
• Practice: While some people may never lose the ability to recall dreams after childhood, others need more practice. For many of us, the ability to remember our dreams is as simple as putting in consistent effort to try. With practice, we strengthen this ability.

Strange Dreams

During our waking hours, we obtain tons of data. Some of it, however, may be complex. As a result, we may filter certain data into more distant areas of our minds, where we may not be consciously aware it resides.

Similarly to how we digest our food after we eat it, our consciousness digests data. Our body has no need for more than a single cup of fresh orange juice in about a day and will, therefore, filter any excess through our urinary system. When we retain data that we have no need for, our brain may create wild, nonsensical dreams as a way to expel unneeded data.

While this probably isn’t the case for all strange dreams, it could be a simple explanation for why we often have bizarre dreams. On the other hand, weird dreams may occur as a means to cope with situations that we don’t fully understand or have little insight into.

Why We Dream

A study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology examined the relationship between dream content and waking life experiences (Domhoff & Schneider, 2008). The researchers found that dreams regularly reflected the dreamer’s personal concerns, relationships, and daily activities. This helped researchers in getting a look at an individual’s psychological landscape.

Interestingly, the psychology of dreaming also encompasses the potential therapeutic applications of dreams. Many psychotherapists and practitioners incorporate dream analysis and interpretation into their work, using the insights gained from their clients’ dreams to better understand their psychological issues, uncover repressed emotions, and facilitate personal growth and self-awareness (Hill, 2004).

Dreams According to Freud

One of the most influential figures in the field of psychology is Sigmund Freud, who helped us form a better understanding of human behavior. During his time in the early twentieth century, his work included the world of dreams.

Freud’s psychoanalytic theory suggested that dreams reveal the contents of the unconscious mind. One of the things that he explained to be frequent among humanity was our attempt to fulfill wishes within our dreams. Whenever something can’t work out in waking life due to the personality or other reasons, Freud believed that people would explore their fantasies and desires within their dreams.

On the other hand, Freud thought that nightmares revealed fear, anxiety, repressed memories, and suppressed feelings. Distressing events within dreams may reflect our unresolved issues. Depending on the context of the nightmare, they may help to explain what those fears, anxieties, memories, and feelings could be.

Dreams According to Jung

Another prominent figure, Carl Jung, expanded on Freud’s ideas. Jung explored human behavior in an incredibly different, yet similar way. For Jung, dreams are much more multifaceted due to our many layers of consciousness. He called them consciousness, unconsciousness, and the collective unconsciousness.

In Jung’s view, dreams were not merely manifestations of the unconscious. Instead, he thought of them as a means of communication between the conscious and unconscious aspects of the mind. He proposed that it’s our way of integrating and balancing these layered parts of our psyche.

Furthermore, Jung’s approach to dream analysis emphasized the importance of understanding the dreamer’s unique psychological context and personal associations with the symbols (Jung, 1974). This holistic, individualized approach to dream analysis has had a lasting impact on the field of clinical psychology and the therapeutic use of dreams. Much of Jung’s work is still highly valued and revered today.

Symbolism of Dreams

In terms of the practical value of dreams, some researchers suggest that they can provide insights into our psychological well-being. They may offer creative inspiration, and even serve as a therapeutic tool for exploring and resolving personal issues. By paying attention to the content and themes of our dreams, we may be able to gain a deeper understanding of our own subconscious processes and use that knowledge to enhance our waking lives.

Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung both had plenty to say about dreams. Freud expressed that common dream symbols like falling teeth, being chased, or finding oneself naked in public can represent guilt, shame, and insecurity. Jung believed that certain archetypical symbols, such as the wise old man, the great mother, or the trickster, appear in dreams across cultures and can provide insights into the universal human experience.

It’s worth noting that the interpretation of dream symbols and their significance can be highly subjective. Generally, they’re dependent on each individual’s personal experiences. While some dream symbols may be more universally recognized, the overall meaning and value of a dream can vary greatly from person to person.