Even though there are no factual reasons on why we dream, there are several theories on the subject. Freud's theory is that dreams show us our hidden desires. There is also Jung's theory that dreams carry meaning, although not always of desire, and that these dreams can be interpreted by the dreamer. After these theories, others continued such as the Cayce theory in which dreams are our bodies’ means of building up of the mental, spiritual and physical well being. Finally came the argument between Evans' theory and the Crick and Mitchinson theory. Evans states t

biologically determined, influenced by instinctual needs and personal experiences. (Freud, pp. 22-34)

the Botanical Monograph", Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association,

Probably one of the most interesting ideas among these theories is his theory of dream occurrence. Dreams occur in a state of "ego collapse" when the demands of the Id (imperative bodily needs) and Superego (conscience ego ideals) combine upon the Ego (personal desires and communicator from the Id to the Superego). In laymen's terms, a dream will occur when the unconscious wish is bound to the preconscious, instead of just being thrown away as we fall into a state of sleep. Many of Freud's theories still stands true today, but most of all in the area of defense mechanisms our body uses while we dream. If our minds have been dealing with too much denial, regression, or repression, it causes an internal conflict, a dream in this case, to take place. This prevents us from building up intolerable states of psychological tension in waking life. This is why, if one becomes overemotional, it actually works to "sleep it off." (Freud, pp. 68)

11.) Thornton, E.M., "The Freudian Fallacy: An Alternative View of Freudian

7.) Huffman, Karen; Vernoy, Mark & Judith, "Psychology in Action", 4th edition,

In his time as a psychoanalyst Freud had to deal with many cases of strange behavior accompanying dreams. "Nightmares" are defined as anxiety-arousing dreams that generally occur near the end of the sleep cycle, during REM sleep. They occur more often in childhood and seem to decrease with age. Less common, but more frightening it seems, are the "night terrors"; abrupt awakenings from NREM sleep accompanied by intense physiological arousal and feelings of panic. (Huffman 143) These night terrors occur generally early on in the cycle during Stage 3 or Stage 4 of NREM. With night terrors, the sleeper awakens suddenly, in a state of panic, with no recollection of any dream. Night terrors are most prevalent among young children, but can also occur in adults. Sleepwalking and sleep talking tend to accompany night terrors and generally occur during NREM sleep (which explains why movement is possible). Nightmares, night terrors, sleepwalking, and sleep talking all seem to be found more often in young children, and when in adults, during times of stress. The only real treatment recommended by experts is patience and soothing reassurance at the time of the sleep disruption.

Dreams had an additional interest for him in that they had "access" to the forgotten material of childhood-In his own self-analysis Freud was discovering further elements of the Oedipus complex, in his case, a deep hostility to his father and death wishes to his

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