Appendix for Web Edition Only

Dream Lab Instructional Packet

Many theories of dreaming have been proposed throughout history with many theories being generated in the last century. You should be aware that there are many misperceptions and myths about dreaming. The following exercise is intended to assist you in developing the skills necessary to evaluate each theory you encounter from a scientific and philosophical standpoint. Further, this exercise is intended to assist you with learning each of the major theories of dreaming. The dream theories for this exercise are as follows:

  1. Wish-Fulfillment Theory
  2. Jungian Theory
  3. Gestalt Theory
  4. Activation-Synthesis Theory
  5. Cognitive Theories
  6. “Pop” Psychology (atheoretical)

Instructions

Preparation

  1. Use resources such as books, journals, e-journals, academic/professional organization sponsored websites, etc. to identify and summarize these dream theories.
  2. Bring any notes you have to class to help you remember the theories.
  3. Be sure to critique the empirical evidence and underlying philosophies that support the theory. Be ready to discuss your personal critique identifying the strengths and limitations of each theory with your group and later, the class.

Day 1

  1. You will be divided into groups based on one of the theories above.
  2. Discuss the theory within your group.
  3. Discuss your personal critiques with the group.

Day 2 / Day 3

  1. Take the standard dream report and evaluate that dream through the viewpoint of your group’s assigned theory.

Day 4

  1. Each group will present their summary, critique, and evaluation of the dream to the class.

Dream Report

“I was in a room with 2 windows. The walls and ceiling were charcoal gray and the floor was made of concrete. There is no furniture in the room. Although it is dark outside, it is still daytime. I feel that there is someone else in the room although I see no one. As I walk toward a window to my right I notice that the room is slanted and I have trouble walking. My movements are very slow. I decide to go outside and I look for a door. There is none. In a moment I am in a small clearing on the side of a mountain. It is sunny and there is a young man sitting next to me. I do not know him but he is trying to talk to me. I can’t make out his face and I can’t understand what he is saying. I then leave him without saying a word. I look back and he is gone. Then I notice a small pond and walk to its edge. I see a great deal of motion under the surface but cannot see exactly what it is. Finally, I see a fish, only the fish has four legs where its side and bottom fins should be and is trying to talk to me as it looks up through the water at me. The fish then crawls ashore and is still attempting to speak but there is no sound. The fish disappears and I fall in the water. I hear a big splash that doesn’t’ muffle when I go under. It is very loud for a splash. For a second I am terrified and then I began to calm down. Then I am upside down and looking at some moss. There is nothing in the water with me although I do not feel completely safe. I struggle to get out of the water and have some trouble breathing. I finally break free and get out of the water. It looks wintry. You know, like gray skies and bare trees. I do not feel cold but I know it is winter. I think to myself, ‘I need to get home.’ I then begin to wonder where it is that I am and how to get home. I am then in my house but the furniture is different. I know it was my house, but I had never seen the furniture before. It is all pink. I thought it was sort of okay but then I decided I wanted my furniture back. My brother then came in the front door and said he was moving in with me. He had a glass case and in that was a pet lizard. I told him I didn’t like it and he should get rid of it or he wasn’t moving in. Strange how I reacted to the lizard and not him moving in. Anyway, I then noticed a light layer of smoke on the floor. I soon determined it was fog from outside and not smoke. I looked out the door and my brother was on the hill that sits way up the road. Even though he was a long way off, we were talking to each other as if we were standing very close. He told me I needed to eat. Then, I woke up. Strange, I was very hungry and ready for breakfast.”

* The dream report was self recorded upon awakening and donated by an anonymous individual.

Additional Information

Gender: Female

Age 31

Ethnicity: Caucasian

Country and Region: U.S. – Southeast

Education: BA in English and MA in American Literature

Marital Status: Single

Relationship Status: Boyfriend of 7 months

Children: none

Occupation: High School English and Literature Teacher (non-local)

Medical History: No significant medical or psychiatric history

Medications (taken in previous 2 weeks): None

Family: Mother (58), Father (60), and Younger Brother (26)

Date of the report: 10-22-99

Approximate time of the dream: around 6-7 a.m. – late in the sleep period

Approximate bedtime: 11 p.m.

Weather at the approximate time of the dream: Calm, temp = around 50 degrees F

Important Related Events Recalled (week prior): Her brother announces he is moving out and into an apartment with a friend. She watched a TV show on redecorating.

Related Events (past 24 hours) She watched a TV show on ocean exploration. She also read a chapter in a novel about a man with a pet iguana.

Related Events (in the near future): Her brother is moving out in a week. She will be giving exams next week. Winter is approaching.

Standard Lecture Outline

  1. Dream Characteristics
  2. Sleep Architecture
  3. Cognitive Experiences
  4. Affective Experiences
  5. Perceptual Experiences
  6. Wish-Fulfillment Theory (Freud)
  7. Jungian Theory (Jung)
  8. Gestalt Theory (Perlz)
  9. Activation-Synthesis Theory (Hobson & McCarley)
  10. Cognitive Theories (e.g., Hall, Van de Castle, Domhoff)
  11. Pop Psychology
  12. Media availability
  13. Empirical vs. Non-Empirical