Why Do People Dream And What Cause Them?

Why do people dream? This question is often pondered by inquisitive minds. Do people dream in similar ways? Why do people dream of adventures one day and experience nightmares the next? There are, and have always been, many different answers to the question - why do people dream?' There are several scientific and mystical theories as to why people dream but the truth is we really don't know for sure. A typical dictionary definition of dreams, which should therefore answer the question why do pople dream, says that dreams are images and ideas that happen involuntarily in the mind of the sleeper. I would add that not all dreams are of an involuntary nature. In fact some dreams can be induced and controlled. This is something I will return to later in this article! Psycho-analysts are fascinated with dreams. Sigmund Freud asked the question why do people dream and saw dreams, in his psychoanalytic model, as repressed or suppressed desires which people hide from themselves in the waking state. Freud believed that such unexpressed wants were symbolically represented in the dream state in order that a person could express them in a safe way. Other, metaphysical, approaches to the dream state propose that dreams are guides to events in the future, past lives or are gateways into other dimensions! Many different ancient cultures have tended to have different views and tackled the question why do people dream in different ways. For instance, Aborigines, have very different views.

They believe that the dream state is actually reality and when they are awake they are experiencing an illusion. Why do people dream is a very difficult question to answer I'm afraid to say. We do know that a dream happens when someone goes into a deep sleep where the brain displays theta brainwaves.

The conscious mind may remain inactive during sleep but the subconscious mind is far from inactive. During dreams a person will show this by displaying REM or rapid eye movement. So why do people dream? Fundamentally dreams are concepts that get expressed while sleeping. Dreams can show structure or show chaos. If you hold true to the Freudian explanation of dreaming and his answer to why do people dream then you can work out what they mean with a good dream analysis book. Whatever the answer is to why do people dream you should also be aware of another special type of dream that is voluntary. I am, of course, talking about lucid dreams.

There are those who have the skill needed to become conscious in their dreams. When this happens it is a relatively simple task to control the dream and change it into anything you want. This is a fantasy experience and feels like real life. You can transform anyone, experience anything and go wherever you want and research shows that anyone can learn how to do it! Why do people dream? Hopefully I have given you some intellectual food for thought and you will continue to ask yourself why do people dream until you get an answer that satisfies.