Theories of Dreaming

Research Paper # 50418

Psychology > Child and Adolescent
Psychology > Dreams
Psychology > Freud
Psychology > Jung

This paper examines the various theories put forth in scientific journals surrounding dreaming. Special attention is paid to the dreams of children and the role of REM sleep with respect to dreaming.

3,400 words () | 10 sources | APA | 2000 Canada

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses a wide range of theories involving dreaming, including the dreams of children, adolescents, and women. It also examines the differences in dream content with respect to age and gender, a behavioral perspective of dreaming, the rhetorical theory of dreaming, the causes and effects of post-traumatic nightmares, and a theory of dreaming as an experience of consciousness.

From the Paper:

"In children, the REM stage goes from about fifty percent of total sleep in infants, to twenty five percent in two and three year olds, and down to around eighteen percent in older Dreaming 3 children and adolescents. Jean Piaget described three stages in children's understanding of their own dreams. In Piaget's theory, the first stage occurs around the age of five or six. These children are only able to interpret their dreams as something external to themselves and as being insignificant. Stage two, which begins around the age of seven or eight, has the children viewing their dreams as coming from the inside but they still view them as things happening around them, in their bedroom as they sleep. Stage three begins around the age of eight or nine and during this stage, children experience their dreams as a reflection of their innermost thoughts and feelings."