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Understanding Dreams
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Reviewed by Psychology Today Staff

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Dreams are imaginary sequences—some with clear
narratives, and some without—that play out in people’s minds
as they sleep. Most dreams consist of a series of images,
sensations, and emotions, and range from pleasant and
exciting to boring or even terrifying.

Dreams have long captured the imagination of humankind;

early in recorded history, they were thought to be messages
from deities or a means to predict the future. In more recent
years, they have drawn the focus of psychologists,
neurologists, philosophers, and biologists, all of whom
continue to study dreams, what they mean, and why
dreaming is necessary for humans and animals alike.

On This Page
What We Know About Dreaming
Understanding Common Dreams

What We Know About Dreaming

Despite the fact that everyone is thought to
dream, there remains much that we don’t
understand about how dreaming occurs, how
long it lasts, and the exact purpose—or
purposes—that it serves. What is known, however, is that
dreams appear primarily in the Rapid Eye Movement (REM)
stage of sleep and are typically accompanied by high levels
of brain activity and some physical movement (particularly in
the eyes). Even people who never recall dreaming are
thought to dream at least occasionally, but the fact that they
take place during sleep means that researchers have
US
difficulty confirming whether or not dreams actually occur.

Why do we dream?

Many researchers believe that dreaming has a

purpose, but what exactly that purpose is remains an
open question. Some believe it helps the brain
consolidate memories and may aid learning; others
believe it allows the brain to simulate threats to better
protect itself in the future. More philosophical and
psychodynamic theories suggest that dreams help us
process difficult thoughts, emotions, and experiences
in order to boost psychological well-being upon
waking.

Why do I always forget my dreams?

Forgetting dreams is far from uncommon. Many (if not

most) dreams are forgotten, either immediately after
waking or later on. Some researchers refer to
immediately-forgotten dreams as “white dreams”;
some evidence suggests that as many as one-third of
awakenings are associated with white dreams, and
may be due to the fact that the brain does not encode
memories the same way while dreaming as it does
while awake.

How can I remember my dreams on waking?

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How long do we dream each night?

How long do dreams last?

Can you have multiple dreams in one night?

What is lucid dreaming?

Understanding Common Dreams

Many dreams are entirely unique. But some
dream themes may be universal; indeed,
multiple studies have found that people from
different locations, cultures, and ethnic groups
report several common dream themes. Certain dream
themes may be indicative of stress or preoccupation with a
particular person or event, but most experts agree that
dreams don’t necessarily “mean” anything or indicate the
individual’s true nature. Many people are occasionally
alarmed by the content of their dreams. But it may give them
comfort to know that the vast majority of people have had
unpleasant or embarrassing dreams and that such dreams do
not indicate any abnormality.

What are the most common dream themes?

Some of the most common dream themes include

being chased, falling, going to school, or engaging in
 sexual activity. Other research indicates that dreams
US
about flying, trying to do the same thing over and over
again, or spending time with someone who is dead in
real life may also be common around the globe.

Do dreams mean anything?

Whether dreams really mean anything—or whether

they’re just random images cobbled together by the
brain—has been debated by psychologists and
neuroscientists for many years. Freud, for instance,
theorized that dreams give insight into the
unconscious mind and provide clues to one’s deeper
self; though many modern researchers disagree with
his theories, some continue to speculate that dream
imagery is relevant to our day-to-day emotional states
and may signal that certain thoughts are preoccupying
us. Some neurologists, on the other hand, theorize that
dreams are just a side effect of memory consolidation
and other brain-based processes, with little to no
meaning beyond that. Many lay people, however,
instinctively feel as if their dreams are trying to tell
them something, and the question remains up for
debate in many corners of the scientific community.

Why do I have stressful dreams about work,

school, or my relationships?

Next: Managing Nightmares

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