Experts theorize that dreaming allows us to consolidate and store memories, preparing us for real-life situations during our waking hours.1 There’s also evidence that dreams are more of a product of our abstract imaginations than our logical perceptions.2 However, there is no definitive answer to why we dream.
Why Do We Dream?
Most dream theories assume that the functional purpose of dreaming is to process emotions, store memories, express subconscious needs or desires, and practice future situations. Some theorists take a more literal approach by proposing that we dream to simply tidy the mental clutter we accrue during the day. Others postulate people dream to keep the brain healthy and functioning at all times- even when fast asleep.3
Ask ten people why we dream, and you’ll likely receive ten different answers. The reality is that there’s a lot we don’t know about what happens after we fall asleep. Even the process of studying dreams is complicated, as it often relies on the dreamer describing the content afterward.
Does Everyone Dream?
It’s theorized that everyone dreams, even if they don’t recall dreaming. Research suggests that we dream for about two hours per night. However, we often have several dreams each night, and even though they may feel like they last for hours, the typical dream is only about 5-20 minutes.
Most dreaming occurs during REM sleep (rapid eye movement). This stage is also when dreams are most vivid and memorable. REM sleep cycles generally occur every 1.5-2 hours. Some research suggests a relationship between the time spent in REM sleep and the time spent dreaming.4
Research indicates that animals also have complex dreams. In addition, they can retain and remember events while they are asleep. Animal brains mimic similar sleeping patterns as humans. It’s also likely that their dream content is connected to actual real-life experiences.5
Dream Theories
Dream theories are timeless, and people have likely been interpreting dreams for centuries. The earliest recorded dream dates back to Mesopotamian civilization in the late 3rd millennium B.C.6 Today, scientists study dreams via dream reports and dream journals. They also use electroencephalography (EEG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to examine the associations between REM sleep and dreaming.
Dream theories explain that the function of dreaming is to:
- Store memories
- Process and clarify emotions
- Express subconscious needs or desires
- Rehearse future situations
Dream theories vary dramatically but almost exclusively center on the above functions.
Here are 18 theories on why we dream:
1. Consolidating Memories
The self-organization theory of dreaming suggests that our brains act as self-organizing systems in all states. They combine neuronal signals (different dream components) into one sequence during sleep. According to this theory, dreams are a product of the sleeping brain and act to consolidate memories from internal and external stimuli.7
2. Reflecting Unconscious Needs or Desires
Sigmund Freud championed the notion that dreams represent unconscious desires, and even some modern theorists back this theory. Dreams’ reflection of our unconscious desires may explain why we dream about topics that feel forbidden, taboo, or highly inappropriate. Dream rebound theory refers to the phenomenon of how suppressed thoughts often result in dreams.8
3. Rehearsing Future Situations
Threat simulation theory (TST) refers to the idea that dreams represent evolutionary responses to prepare us for coping with potential threats. From this framework, people experiencing acute trauma may have more vivid dreams as their brain constantly tries to prepare them for survival. Research shows that severely traumatized children often report a more significant number of dreams.9
4. Processing and Clarifying Emotions
Emotional regulation dream theory suggests that we dream to process various emotions safely. This likely has to do with the amygdala and hippocampus, the parts of the brain associated with emotion and memory storage. This theory also indicates that REM sleep is essential for emotional regulation. The emotional regulation dream theory might explain why dreams feel so intense, and we may have repetitive dreams.10
5. Sparking Creativity
The creativity theory of dreaming suggests that our unconscious brains have unlimited potential when the tasks of daily life do not bog them down. Only when we’re unconscious can our brains have full access to whatever it desires. The creative theory of dreaming may explain why people sometimes attribute their dreams to their brilliant art, story ideas, or groundbreaking inventions.11
6. Processing Information
The activation-synthesis hypothesis suggests that neuron activity activated during REM sleep is responsible for dream formation. Chemicals that activate brain nerves are constantly flowing and changing. These changes trigger brain activity that activates memories in REM sleep. This model, therefore, assumes that the brain is constantly synthesizing and interpreting meaning from various brain signals.12
7. Reflecting on Real-Life Situations
The continuity hypothesis of dreams suggests that dreams closely parallel content during your waking life. In other words, if something is actively causing you distress, you’re likely to dream about it, too 13. The continuity hypothesis might explain why people often dream about past events or various interpersonal dynamics that are important to them.
8. Interpreting External Stimuli
We may dream to integrate external sounds, smells, or sensations. These interpretations of external stimuli might explain why we sometimes “dream” an alarm clock noise or baby cry into the content of our dream. Our brain tries to make sense of the situation even when it’s in deep REM sleep.
9. Cleaning Up Mental Clutter
We absorb, process, and attempt to synthesize information all day. Some scientists theorize that dreams act as a way to sort the clutter from what matters most. This process ideally refreshes the brain and gives people a fresh start each morning.
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10. Forgetting Unimportant Material
The reverse learning theory of dreams suggests that we dream to forget or unlearn. The idea is that our brain can’t keep up with the sheer amount of neural connections occurring between memories. Dreaming is a way to prioritize what’s most important while removing what doesn’t matter as much.
11. Prioritizing Ideas
Dreams may help with problem-solving, and this theory suggests that dreams help pinpoint which ideas may require further analysis and attention during your wakeful hours. From this model, dreams act as a selection tool for ideas. In our dreams, we can safely “test” the ideas or emotions and decide which ones to pursue further.15
12. Coping With Trauma
The contemporary theory of dreaming suggests that our emotions guide our dreams, and they are often rooted in fear or trauma. Dreams act as a way to play out scenarios that assuage this anxiety and help us cope with stressful situations. However, the idea is that dreams may have been more productive for our ancestors, who regularly faced life-threatening conditions.
13. Being Empathic to Others
The empathy theory of dreaming suggests that dreams may be rooted in empathy, especially for people with higher levels of empathy. The idea is that we may have more vivid dreams after having emotionally-intense conversations with others. Therefore, dreams may act as a way to process and even consolidate our social connections.16
14. Fulfilling Wishes
Sigmund Freud suggests that dreams act as a way to carry out desires that feel too forbidden in waking life. But not all ‘dream wishes’ are inherently taboo. For example, sometimes, we dream about beautiful scenes that we’d love to experience in real life. Therefore, the theory of dreaming to ‘fulfill wishes’ may speak to how our brains always seek pleasant experiences.
15. Compensating for Imbalances in the Psyche
Psychologist Carl Jung argued that dreams express a person’s unconscious state through metaphors and symbols. These abstract images explain why dreams often feel so chaotic. Jung also believed that such archetypes were fundamentally part of human consciousness. Dreams, therefore, act as a way to compensate for our inherent human flaws.17
16. Focusing on Pertinent Issues
Nightmares can be scary, but they may serve a more functional purpose than you realize. Some theories on nightmares suggest that they are integral to our survival- they are your brain’s way of helping you focus on a specific issue that needs more attention. In addition, from a biological standpoint, the anxiety you feel after helps you stay better prepared for threats.
17. Identifying Unmet Needs
Recurring nightmares and dreams may act as a subconscious way to continue working through unmet needs. Research shows that we tend to have recurring dreams during stressful times. The content may vary, but there’s often a sense of danger involved. This could indicate unresolved conflict in your daily life, and you may or may not be aware of what that conflict is.
18. No Reason/Purpose
Although it may sound anticlimactic, some researchers believe that dreams don’t have any real reason or purpose. Instead, these individuals believe that dreams occur randomly and often just as a response to physiological activity in the brain. This theory can be another explanation for the activation-synthesis hypothesis.
What Factors Affect Dreams?
Your lifestyle, personality, and emotional well-being all likely play a role in affecting your dreams. For example, people with mental health issues like depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder may have more intense dreams or nightmares. Similarly, some athletes report that high levels of exercise coincide with having more vivid dreams. That said, there doesn’t appear to be any conclusive data indicating what most affects dream content.
When to Seek Professional Help
It’s important to remember that dreams are normal, and even though the content may, at times, be disturbing, it doesn’t mean anything is wrong with you. Dreams can play a role in emerging or untreated mental health issues. If your dreams scare you- or if you are having problems with sleep- it may be beneficial to seek treatment. A qualified therapist can help you better understand your dreams and how they affect your emotional well-being. You can find a therapist specializing in sleep and dreaming by using an online therapy directory or online therapy options.
Final Thoughts
Even though experts aren’t exactly clear about why we dream, numerous theories explain the function of sleep and dreams. Your dreams can reveal rich details about your life, relationships, and subconscious needs. However, if you persistently feel scared or frustrated by your dreams- or if they impact the quality of your life- consider meeting with a professional.
Why Do We Dream? 18 Possible Reasons Infographics
