Why do People Dream?

• There are several predominant theories explaining the purpose of dreams.
•  Sigmund Freud, a famous philosopher, proposed that dreams reveal the hidden wishes and truths of individuals.
• On the other hand, recent research proposes that dreams are helpful for helping us manifest intense emotions and arrange and combine memories.
• Other theories suggest that dreams do not have any evolutionary function but instead embody personal concerns. 

Studies Conducted about Dreams

• In a study conducted in India, South Korea, and the U.S., respondents revealed that dreaming about scary situations such as plane crashes gave them more anxiety compared to real-life warnings of terrorist attacks.
• In a 1958 study that did a comparison between Americans and Japanese people, Americans had more dreams about being locked up, encountering crazy people, and getting money.
• On the other hand, Japanese people had a higher likelihood of dreaming about trying to do something repeatedly or being faced by fear.

• In a study that was conducted on students who were taking a medical-school entrance test, 60% of the dreams that they had before the dreams were related to problems with the exam such as lateness.