essay to inform the reader about the purpose of dreams

Essays About Dreams In Life: 14 Examples And Topic Ideas

Dreams in life are necessary; if you are writing essays about dreams in life, you can read these essay examples and topic ideas to get started.

Everyone has a dream – a big one or even a small one. Even the most successful people had dreams before becoming who they are today. Having a dream is like having a purpose in life; you will start working hard to reach your dream and never lose interest in life.

Without hard work, you can never turn a dream into a reality; it will only remain a desire. Level up your essay writing skills by reading our essays about dreams in life examples and prompts and start writing an inspiring essay today!

Writing About Dreams: A Guide

Essays about dreams in life: example essays, 1. chase your dreams: the best advice i ever got by michelle colon-johnson, 2. my dream, my future by deborah massey, 3. the pursuit of dreams by christine nishiyama, 4. my dreams and ambitions by kathy benson, 5. turning big dreams into reality by shyam gokarn, 6. my hopes and dreams by celia robinson, 7. always pursue your dreams – no matter what happens by steve bloom, 8. why do we dream by james roland, 9. bad dreams by eli goldstone, 10. why your brain needs to dream by matthew walker, 11. dreams by hedy marks, 12. do dreams really mean anything by david b. feldman, 13. how to control your dreams by serena alagappan, 14. the sunday essay: my dreams on antidepressants by ashleigh young, essays about dreams in life essay topics, 1. what is a dream, 2. what are your dreams in life, 3. why are dreams important in life, 4. what are the reasons for a person to dream big, 5. what do you think about dreams in life vs. short-term sacrifice, 6. what is the purpose of dreaming, 7. why are dreams so strange and vivid, 8. why do dreams feel so real, 9. why are dreams so hard to remember, 10. do dreams mean anything, what is a dream short essay, how can i write my dream in life.

Writing about dreams is an excellent topic for essays, brainstorming new topic ideas for fiction stories, or just as a creative outlet. We all have dreams, whether in our sleep, during the day, or even while walking on a sunny day. Some of the best ways to begin writing about a topic are by reading examples and using a helpful prompt to get started. Check out our guide to writing about dreams and begin mastering the art of writing today!

“Everyone has the ability to dream, but not everyone has the willingness to truly chase their dreams. When people aren’t living their dreams they often have limited belief systems. They believe that their current circumstances and/or surroundings are keeping them from achieving the things they want to do in life.”

In her essay, author Michelle Colon-Johnson encourages her readers to develop a mindset that will let them chase their dreams. So, you have to visualize your dream, manifest it, and start your journey towards it! Check out these essays about dreams and sleep .

“At the time when I have my job and something to make them feel so proud of me, I would like to give them the best life. I would like to make them feel comfortable and see sweet smiles on their faces. This is really the one I like to achieve in my life; mountains of words can’t explain how much I love and appreciate them.”

Author Deborah Massey’s essay talks about her dreams and everything she wanted to achieve and accomplish in her life. She also tells us that we must live our values, pursue our dreams, and follow our passions for the best future.

“Fast-forward 5+ years, and my first published book is coming out this May with Scholastic. And now, let me tell you the truth: I don’t feel any different. I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity, proud of the work I’ve done, and excited for the book’s release. But on a fundamental level, I feel the same.”

In her essay, author Christine Nishiyama shares what she felt when she first achieved one of her goals in life. She says that with this mindset, you will never feel the satisfaction of achieving your goal or the fulfillment of reaching your dream. Instead, she believes that what fulfills people is the pursuit of their dreams in life.

“My dream is to become a good plastic surgeon and day after day it has transformed into an ambition which I want to move towards. I do not want to be famous, but just good enough to have my own clinic and work for a very successful hospital. Many people think that becoming a doctor is difficult, and I know that takes many years of preparation, but anyone can achieve it if they have determination.”

Author Kathy Benson’s essay narrates her life – all the things and struggles she has been through in pursuing her dreams in life. Yet, no matter how hard the situation gets, she always convinces herself not to give up, hoping her dreams will come true one day. She believes that with determination and commitment, anyone can achieve their dreams and goals in life. 

“I have always been a big dreamer and involved in acting upon it. Though, many times I failed, I continued to dream big and act. As long as I recollect, I always had such wild visions and fantasies of thinking, planning, and acting to achieve great things in life. But, as anyone can observe, there are many people, who think and work in that aspect.”

In his essay, author Shyam Gokarn explains why having a big dream is very important in a person’s life. However, he believes that the problem with some people is that they never hold tight to their dreams, even if they can turn them into reality. As a result, they tend to easily give up on their dreams and even stop trying instead of persevering through the pain and anguish of another failure.

“When I was younger, I’ve always had a fairytale-like dream about my future. To marry my prince, have a Fairy Godmother, be a princess… But now, all of that has changed. I’ve realized how hard life is now; that life cannot be like a fairy tale. What you want can’t happen just like that.”

Celia Robinson’s essay talks about her dream since she was a child. Unfortunately, as we grow old, there’s no “Fairy Godmother” that would help us when things get tough. Everyone wants to succeed in the future, but we have to work hard to achieve our dreams and goals.

“Take writing for example. I’ve wanted to be a professional writer since I was a little boy, but I was too scared that I wouldn’t be any good at it. But several years ago I started pursuing this dream despite knowing how difficult it might be. I fully realize I may not make it, but I’m completely fine with that. At least I tried which is more than most people can say.”

In his essay, author Steve Bloom encourages his readers always to pursue their dreams no matter what happens. He asks, “Would you rather pursue them and fail or never try?”. He believes that it’s always better to try and fail than look back and wonder what might have been. Stop thinking that failure or success is the only end goal for pursuing your dreams. Instead, think of it as a long journey where all the experiences you get along the way are just as important as reaching the end goal.

“Dreams are hallucinations that occur during certain stages of sleep. They’re strongest during REM sleep, or the rapid eye movement stage, when you may be less likely to recall your dream. Much is known about the role of sleep in regulating our metabolism, blood pressure, brain function, and other aspects of health. But it’s been harder for researchers to explain the role of dreams. When you’re awake, your thoughts have a certain logic to them. When you sleep, your brain is still active, but your thoughts or dreams often make little or no sense.”

Author James Roland’s essay explains the purpose of having dreams and the factors that can influence our dreams. He also mentioned some of the reasons that cause nightmares. Debra Sullivan, a nurse educator, medically reviews his essay. Sullivan’s expertise includes cardiology, psoriasis/dermatology, pediatrics, and alternative medicine. For more, you can also see these articles about sleep .

“The first time I experienced sleep paralysis and recognised it for what it was I was a student. I had been taking MDMA and listening to Django Reinhardt. My memories of that time are mainly of taking drugs and listening to Django Reinhardt. When I woke up I was in my paralysed body. I was there, inside it. I was inside my leaden wrists, my ribcage, the thick dead roots of my hair, the bandages of skin. This time the hallucinations were auditory. I could hear someone being beaten outside my door. They were screaming for help. And I could do nothing but lie there, locked inside my body . . . whatever bit of me is not my body. That is the bit that exists, by itself, at night.”

In her essay, Author Eli Goldstone talks about her suffering from bad dreams ever since childhood. She also talks about what she feels every time she has sleep paralysis – a feeling of being conscious but unable to move.

“We often hear stories of people who’ve learned from their dreams or been inspired by them. Think of Paul McCartney’s story of how his hit song “Yesterday” came to him in a dream or of Mendeleev’s dream-inspired construction of the periodic table of elements. But, while many of us may feel that our dreams have special meaning or a useful purpose, science has been more skeptical of that claim. Instead of being harbingers of creativity or some kind of message from our unconscious, some scientists have considered dreaming to being an unintended consequence of sleep—a byproduct of evolution without benefit.”

Author Matthew Walker, a professor of psychology and neuroscience, shares some interesting facts about dreams in his essay. According to research, dreaming is more than just a byproduct of sleep; it also serves essential functions in our well-being. 

“Dreams are basically stories and images that our mind creates while we sleep. They can be vivid. They can make you feel happy, sad, or scared. And they may seem confusing or perfectly rational. Dreams can happen at any time during sleep. But you have your most vivid dreams during a phase called REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, when your brain is most active. Some experts say we dream at least four to six times a night.”

In his essay, Author Hedy Marks discusses everything we need to know about dreams in detail – from defining a dream to tips that may help us remember our dreams. Hedy Marks is an Assistant Managing Editor at WebMD , and Carol DerSarkissian, a board-certified emergency physician, medically reviews his essay.

“Regardless of whether dreams foretell the future, allow us to commune with the divine, or simply provide a better understanding of ourselves, the process of analyzing them has always been highly symbolic. To understand the meaning of dreams, we must interpret them as if they were written in a secret code. A quick search of an online dream dictionary will tell you that haunted houses symbolize “unfinished emotional business,” dimly lit lamps mean you’re “feeling overwhelmed by emotional issues,” a feast indicates “a lack of balance in your life,” and garages symbolize a feeling of “lacking direction or guidance in achieving your goals.” 

Author David B. Feldman, an author, speaker, and professor of counseling psychology, believes that dreams may not mean anything, but they tell us something about our emotions. In other words, if you’ve been suffering from a series of bad dreams, it could be worth checking in with yourself to see how you’ve been feeling and perhaps consider whether there’s anything you can do to improve your mood.

“Ever wish you could ice skate across a winter sky, catching crumbs of gingerbread, like flakes of snow, on your tongue? How about conquering a monster in a nightmare, bouncing between mountain peaks, walking through walls, or reading minds? Have you ever longed to hold the hand of someone you loved and lost? If you want to fulfill your fantasies, or even face your fears, you might want to try taking some control of your dreams (try being the operative). People practiced in lucid dreaming—the phenomenon of being aware that you are dreaming while you are asleep—claim that the experience allows adventure, self-discovery, and euphoric joy.”

In her essay, Author Serena Alagappan talks about lucid dreams – a type of dream where a person becomes conscious during a dream. She also talked about ways to control our dreams, such as keeping a journal, reciting mantras before bed, and believing we can. However, not everyone will be able to control their dreams because the levels of lucidity and control differ significantly between individuals.

“There was a period of six months when I tried to go off my medication – a slowly unfolding disaster – and I’d thought my dreams might settle down. Instead, they grew more deranged. Even now I think of the dream in which I was using a cigarette lighter to melt my own father, who had assumed the form of a large candle. I’ve since learned that, apart from more research being needed, this was probably a case of “REM rebound”. When you stop taking the medication, you’ll likely get a lot more REM sleep than you were getting before. In simple terms, your brain goes on a dreaming frenzy, amping up the detail.”

Author Ashleigh Young’s essay informs us how some medications, such as antidepressants, affect our dreams based on her own life experience. She said, “I’ve tried not to dwell too much on my dreams. Yes, they are vivid and sometimes truly gruesome, full of chaotic, unfathomable violence, but weird nights seemed a reasonable price to pay for the bearable days that SSRIs have helped me to have.” 

In simple terms, a dream is a cherished aspiration, ambition, or ideal; is it the same as your goal in life? In your essay, explore this topic and state your opinion about what the word “dream” means to you.

This is an excellent topic for your statement or “about me” essay. Where do you see yourself in the next ten years? Do you have a career plan? If you still haven’t thought about it, maybe it’s time to start thinking about your future.

Having dreams is very important in a person’s life; it motivates, inspires, and helps you achieve any goal that you have in mind. Without dreams, we would feel lost – having no purpose in life. Therefore, in your essay, you should be able to explain to your readers how important it is to have a dream or ambition in life. 

Dreaming big sounds great; however, it’s easier said than done. First, you’ve got to have reasons to dream big, which will motivate you to achieve your goals in life. If you’re writing an essay about dreams in life, mention why most people dare to dream big and achieve more in life. Is it about freedom, money, praise from other people, satisfaction, or something else entirely?

For example, you could watch movies, play video games, relax every night, or give up all of them to learn a complex skill – what would you choose, and why? In your essay about dreams in life, answer the question and include other examples about this topic so your readers can relate.

There are many answers to this question – one is that dreams may have an evolutionary function, testing us in scenarios crucial to our survival. Dreams may also reduce the severity of emotional trauma. On the other hand, some researchers say dreams have no purpose or meaning, while some say we need dreams for physical and mental health. Take a closer look at this topic, and include what you find in your essay.

Weird dreams could result from anxiety, stress, or sleep deprivation. So, manage your stress levels, and stick to a sleep routine to stop having weird dreams. If you wake up from a weird dream, you can fall back asleep using deep breaths or any relaxing activity. You can research other causes of weird dreams and ways to stop yourself from having them for your essay about dreams and sleep.

The same areas of the brain that are active when we learn and process information in the actual world are active when we dream, and they replay the information as we sleep. Many things we see, hear, and feel in our everyday lives appear in our dreams. If you want to write an informative essay about dreams and sleep, look into more details about this topic.

Tip: When editing for grammar, we also recommend taking the time to improve the readability score of a piece of writing before publishing or submitting it.

People may not remember what happened in their dreams. Studies show that people tend to forget their dreams due to the changing levels of acetylcholine and norepinephrine during sleep. This will be quite an exciting topic for your readers because many people can relate. That being said, research more information about this topic, and discuss it in detail in your essay. 

Although some people believe that dreams don’t mean anything, many psychologists and other experts have theorized about the deeper meaning of dreams. Therefore, your essay about dreams and sleep should delve deeper into this topic. If you’re stuck picking your next essay topic, check out our round-up of essay topics about education .

FAQS on Essays About Dreams in Life

There are many great short essays about dreams; you can write your own too! Some great examples include Do Dreams Really Mean Anything? by David B. Feldman and  Dreams by Hedy Marks.

Writing about your dreams in life is a fantastic creative outlet and can even help you plan your future. Use a prompt to get started, like “What are your dreams in life?” or “What do you aspire to be in ten years?” and begin writing without thinking too much about it. See where the pen takes you and start mapping out your future with this writing exercise.

Meet Rachael, the editor at Become a Writer Today. With years of experience in the field, she is passionate about language and dedicated to producing high-quality content that engages and informs readers. When she's not editing or writing, you can find her exploring the great outdoors, finding inspiration for her next project.

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Why Do We Dream?

Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."

Dr. Sabrina Romanoff, PsyD, is a licensed clinical psychologist and a professor at Yeshiva University’s clinical psychology doctoral program.

Verywell / Madelyn Goodnight

What Is a Dream?

The role of dreams.

• Reflect the Unconscious
• Process Information
• Aid In Memory
• Spur Creativity
• Reflect Your Life
• Prepare and Protect
• Process Emotions
• Other Theories

Lucid Dreaming

Stress dreams.

Despite scientific inquiry, we still don't have a solid answer for why people dream. Some of the most notable theories are that dreaming helps us process memories and better understand our emotions , also providing a way to express what we want or to practice facing our challenges.

7 Theories on Why We Dream

A dream includes the images, thoughts, and emotions that are experienced during sleep. Dreams can range from extraordinarily intense or emotional to very vague, fleeting, confusing, or even boring. Some dreams are joyful, while others are frightening or sad. Sometimes dreams seem to have a clear narrative, while many others appear to make no sense at all.

There are many unknowns about dreaming and sleep, but what scientists do know is that just about everyone dreams every time they sleep, for a total of around two hours per night, whether they remember it upon waking or not .

Beyond what's in a particular dream, there is the question of why we dream at all. Below, we detail the most prominent theories on the purpose of dreaming and how these explanations can be applied to specific dreams.

How Do Scientists Study Dreams?

The question of why we dream has fascinated philosophers and scientists for thousands of years. Traditionally, dream content is measured by the subjective recollections of the dreamer upon waking. However, observation is also accomplished through objective evaluation in a lab.

In one study, researchers even created a rudimentary dream content map that was able to track what people dreamed about in real time using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) patterns. The map was then backed up by the dreamers' reports upon waking.

Some of the more prominent dream theories contend that the function of dreaming is to:

• Consolidate memories
• Process emotions
• Express our deepest desires
• Gain practice confronting potential dangers

Many experts believe that we dream due to a combination of these reasons rather than any one particular theory. Additionally, while many researchers believe that dreaming is essential to mental, emotional, and physical well-being, some scientists suggest that dreams serve no real purpose at all.

The bottom line is, while many theories have been proposed, no single consensus has emerged on why we dream.

Dreaming during different phases of sleep may also serve unique purposes. The most vivid dreams happen during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep , and these are the dreams that we're most likely to recall. We also dream during non-rapid eye movement (non-REM) sleep, but those dreams are known to be remembered less often and have more mundane content.

Dreams May Reflect the Unconscious

Sigmund Freud’s theory of dreams suggests that dreams represent  unconscious desires, thoughts, wish fulfillment, and motivations. According to Freud, people are driven by repressed and unconscious longings, such as aggressive and sexual instincts .

While many of Freud's assertions have been debunked, research suggests there is a dream rebound effect, also known as dream rebound theory, in which suppression of a thought tends to result in dreaming about it.

What Causes Dreams to Happen?

In " The Interpretation of Dreams ," Freud wrote that dreams are "disguised fulfillments of repressed wishes." He also described two different components of dreams: manifest content (actual images) and latent content (hidden meaning).

Freud’s theory contributed to the rise and popularity of dream interpretation . While research has failed to demonstrate that the manifest content disguises the psychological significance of a dream, some experts believe that dreams play an important role in processing emotions and stressful experiences.

Dreams Process Information

According to the activation-synthesis model of dreaming , which was first proposed by J. Allan Hobson and Robert McCarley, circuits in the brain become activated during REM sleep, which triggers the amygdala and hippocampus to create an array of electrical impulses. This results in a compilation of random thoughts, images, and memories that appear while dreaming.

When we wake, our active minds pull together the various images and memory fragments of the dream to create a cohesive narrative.  

In the activation-synthesis hypothesis, dreams are a compilation of randomness that appear to the sleeping mind and are brought together in a meaningful way when we wake. In this sense, dreams may provoke the dreamer to make new connections, inspire useful ideas, or have creative epiphanies in their waking lives.

Dreams Aid In Memory

According to the information-processing theory, sleep allows us to consolidate and process all of the information and memories that we have collected during the previous day. Some dream experts suggest that dreaming is a byproduct, or even an active part, of this experience processing.  

This model, known as the self-organization theory of dreaming , explains that dreaming is a side effect of brain neural activity as memories are consolidated during sleep. During this process of unconscious information redistribution, it is suggested that memories are either strengthened or weakened. According to the self-organization theory of dreaming, while we dream, helpful memories are made stronger, while less useful ones fade away.

Research supports this theory, finding improvement in complex tasks when a person dreams about doing them. Studies also show that during REM sleep, low-frequency theta waves were more active in the frontal lobe, just like they are when people are learning, storing, and remembering information when awake.

Dreams Spur Creativity

Another theory about dreams says that their purpose is to help us solve problems. In this creativity theory of dreaming, the unconstrained, unconscious mind is free to wander its limitless potential while unburdened by the often stifling realities of the conscious world. In fact, research has shown dreaming to be an effective promoter of creative thinking.

Scientific research and anecdotal evidence back up the fact that many people do successfully mine their dreams for inspiration and credit their dreams for their big "aha" moments.

The ability to make unexpected connections between memories and ideas that appear in your dreams often proves to be an especially fertile ground for creativity.

Dreams Reflect Your Life

Under the continuity hypothesis, dreams function as a reflection of a person's real life, incorporating conscious experiences into their dreams. Rather than a straightforward replay of waking life, dreams show up as a patchwork of memory fragments.

Still, studies show that non-REM sleep may be more involved with declarative memory (the more routine stuff), while REM dreams include more emotional and instructive memories. In general, REM dreams tend to be easier to recall compared to non-REM dreams.

Under the continuity hypothesis, memories may be fragmented purposefully in our dreams as part of incorporating new learning and experiences into long-term memory . Still, there are many unanswered questions as to why some aspects of memories are featured more or less prominently in our dreams.

Dreams Prepare and Protect

The primitive instinct rehearsal and adaptive strategy theories of dreaming propose that we dream to better prepare ourselves to confront dangers in the real world. The dream as a social simulation function or threat simulation provides the dreamer a safe environment to practice important survival skills.

While dreaming, we hone our fight-or-flight instincts and build mental capability for handling threatening scenarios. Under the threat simulation theory, our sleeping brains focus on the fight-or-flight mechanism to prep us for life-threatening and/or emotionally intense scenarios including:

• Running away from a pursuer
• Falling over a cliff
• Showing up somewhere naked
• Going to the bathroom in public
• Forgetting to study for a final exam

This theory suggests that practicing or rehearsing these skills in our dreams gives us an evolutionary advantage in that we can better cope with or avoid threatening scenarios in the real world. This helps explain why so many dreams contain scary, dramatic, or intense content.

Dreams Help Process Emotions

The emotional regulation dream theory says that the function of dreams is to help us process and cope with our emotions or trauma in the safe space of slumber.

Research shows that the amygdala, which is involved in processing emotions, and the hippocampus, which plays a vital role in condensing information and moving it from short-term to long-term memory storage, are active during vivid, intense dreaming. This illustrates a strong link between dreaming, memory storage, and emotional processing.

This theory suggests that REM sleep plays a vital role in emotional brain regulation. It also helps explain why so many dreams are emotionally vivid and why emotional or traumatic experiences tend to show up on repeat. Research has shown a connection between the ability to process emotions and the amount of REM sleep a person gets.

Content similarities and common dreams shared among dreamers may help promote connection. Research also notes heightened empathy among people who share their dreams with others, pointing to another way dreams can help us cope by promoting community and interpersonal support.

Other Theories About Why We Dream

Many other theories have been suggested to account for why we dream.

• One theory contends that dreams are the result of our brains trying to interpret external stimuli (such as a dog's bark, music, or a baby's cry) during sleep.
• Another theory uses a computer metaphor to account for dreams, noting that dreams serve to "clean up" clutter from the mind, refreshing the brain for the next day.
• The reverse-learning theory suggests that we dream to forget. Our brains have thousands of neural connections between memories—too many to remember them all—and that dreaming is part of "pruning" those connections.
• In the continual-activation theory, we dream to keep the brain active while we sleep, in order to keep it functioning properly.

Lucid dreams are relatively rare dreams where the dreamer has awareness of being in their dream and often has some control over the dream content. Research indicates that around 50% of people recall having had at least one lucid dream in their lifetime and just over 10% report having them two or more times per month.

It is unknown why certain people experience lucid dreams more frequently than others. While experts are unclear as to why or how lucid dreaming occurs, preliminary research signals that the prefrontal and parietal regions of the brain play a significant role.

How to Lucid Dream

Many people covet lucid dreaming and seek to experience it more often. Lucid dreaming has been compared to virtual reality and hyper-realistic video games, giving lucid dreamers the ultimate self-directed dreamscape experience.

Potential training methods for inducing lucid dreaming include cognitive training, external stimulation during sleep, and medications. While these methods may show some promise, none have been rigorously tested or shown to be effective.

A strong link has been found between lucid dreaming and highly imaginative thinking and creative output. Research has shown that lucid dreamers perform better on creative tasks than those who do not experience lucid dreaming.

Stressful experiences tend to show up with great frequency in our dreams. Stress dreams may be described as sad, scary, and nightmarish .

Experts do not fully understand how or why specific stressful content ends up in our dreams, but many point to a variety of theories, including the continuity hypothesis, adaptive strategy, and emotional regulation dream theories to explain these occurrences. Stress dreams and mental health seem to go hand-in-hand.

• Daily stress shows up in dreams : Research has shown that those who experience greater levels of worry in their waking lives and people diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) report higher frequency and intensity of nightmares.
• Mental health disorders may contribute to stress dreams : Those with mental health disorders such as anxiety, bipolar disorder , and depression tend to have more distressing dreams, as well as more difficulty sleeping in general.
• Anxiety is linked to stress dreams : Research indicates a strong connection between anxiety and stressful dream content. These dreams may be the brain's attempt to help us cope with and make sense of these stressful experiences.

A Word From Verywell

While there are many theories for why we dream, more research is needed to fully understand their purpose. Rather than assuming only one hypothesis is correct, dreams likely serve a variety of purposes.

Knowing that so much is left uncertain about why we dream, we can feel free to view our own dreams in the light that resonates best with us.

If you are concerned about your dreams and/or are having frequent nightmares, consider speaking to your doctor or consulting a sleep specialist.

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By Kendra Cherry, MSEd Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."

July 26, 2011

The Science Behind Dreaming

New research sheds light on how and why we remember dreams--and what purpose they are likely to serve

By Sander van der Linden

Getty Images

For centuries people have pondered the meaning of dreams. Early civilizations thought of dreams as a medium between our earthly world and that of the gods. In fact, the Greeks and Romans were convinced that dreams had certain prophetic powers. While there has always been a great interest in the interpretation of human dreams, it wasn’t until the end of the nineteenth century that Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung put forth some of the most widely-known modern theories of dreaming. Freud’s theory centred around the notion of repressed longing -- the idea that dreaming allows us to sort through unresolved, repressed wishes. Carl Jung (who studied under Freud) also believed that dreams had psychological importance, but proposed different theories about their meaning.

Since then, technological advancements have allowed for the development of other theories. One prominent neurobiological theory of dreaming is the “activation-synthesis hypothesis,” which states that dreams don’t actually mean anything: they are merely electrical brain impulses that pull random thoughts and imagery from our memories. Humans, the theory goes, construct dream stories after they wake up, in a natural attempt to make sense of it all. Yet, given the vast documentation of realistic aspects to human dreaming as well as indirect experimental evidence that other mammals such as cats also dream, evolutionary psychologists have theorized that dreaming really does serve a purpose. In particular, the “threat simulation theory” suggests that dreaming should be seen as an ancient biological defence mechanism that provided an evolutionary advantage because of  its capacity to repeatedly simulate potential threatening events – enhancing the neuro-cognitive mechanisms required for efficient threat perception and avoidance.

So, over the years, numerous theories have been put forth in an attempt to illuminate the mystery behind human dreams, but, until recently, strong tangible evidence has remained largely elusive.

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Yet, new research published in the Journal of Neuroscience provides compelling insights into the mechanisms that underlie dreaming and the strong relationship our dreams have with our memories. Cristina Marzano and her colleagues at the University of Rome have succeeded, for the first time, in explaining how humans remember their dreams. The scientists predicted the likelihood of successful dream recall based on a signature pattern of brain waves. In order to do this, the Italian research team invited 65 students to spend two consecutive nights in their research laboratory.

During the first night, the students were left to sleep, allowing them to get used to the sound-proofed and temperature-controlled rooms. During the second night the researchers measured the student’s brain waves while they slept. Our brain experiences four types of electrical brain waves: “delta,” “theta,” “alpha,” and “beta.” Each represents a different speed of oscillating electrical voltages and together they form the electroencephalography (EEG). The Italian research team used this technology to measure the participant’s brain waves during various sleep-stages. (There are five stages of sleep; most dreaming and our most intense dreams occur during the REM stage.) The students were woken at various times and asked to fill out a diary detailing whether or not they dreamt, how often they dreamt and whether they could remember the content of their dreams.

While previous studies have already indicated that people are more likely to remember their dreams when woken directly after REM sleep, the current study explains why. Those participants who exhibited more low frequency theta waves in the frontal lobes were also more likely to remember their dreams.

This finding is interesting because the increased frontal theta activity the researchers observed looks just like the successful encoding and retrieval of autobiographical memories seen while we are awake. That is, it is the same electrical oscillations in the frontal cortex that make the recollection of episodic memories (e.g., things that happened to you) possible. Thus, these findings suggest that the neurophysiological mechanisms that we employ while dreaming (and recalling dreams) are the same as when we construct and retrieve memories while we are awake.

In another recent study conducted by the same research team, the authors used the latest MRI techniques to investigate the relation between dreaming and the role of deep-brain structures. In their study, the researchers found that vivid, bizarre and emotionally intense dreams (the dreams that people usually remember) are linked to parts of the amygdala and hippocampus. While the amygdala plays a primary role in the processing and memory of emotional reactions, the hippocampus has been implicated in important memory functions, such as the consolidation of information from short-term to long-term memory.

The proposed link between our dreams and emotions is also highlighted in another recent study published by Matthew Walker and colleagues at the Sleep and Neuroimaging Lab at UC Berkeley, who found that a reduction in REM sleep (or less “dreaming”) influences our ability to understand complex emotions in daily life – an essential feature of human social functioning.  Scientists have also recently identified where dreaming is likely to occur in the brain.  A very rare clinical condition known as “Charcot-Wilbrand Syndrome” has been known to cause (among other neurological symptoms) loss of the ability to dream.  However, it was not until a few years ago that a patient reported to have lost her ability to dream while having virtually no other permanent neurological symptoms. The patient suffered a lesion in a part of the brain known as the right inferior lingual gyrus (located in the visual cortex). Thus, we know that dreams are generated in, or transmitted through this particular area of the brain, which is associated with visual processing, emotion and visual memories.

Taken together, these recent findings tell an important story about the underlying mechanism and possible purpose of dreaming.

Dreams seem to help us process emotions by encoding and constructing memories of them. What we see and experience in our dreams might not necessarily be real, but the emotions attached to these experiences certainly are. Our dream stories essentially try to strip the emotion out of a certain experience by creating a memory of it. This way, the emotion itself is no longer active.  This mechanism fulfils an important role because when we don’t process our emotions, especially negative ones, this increases personal worry and anxiety. In fact, severe REM sleep-deprivation is increasingly correlated to the development of mental disorders. In short, dreams help regulate traffic on that fragile bridge which connects our experiences with our emotions and memories.

Are you a scientist who specializes in neuroscience, cognitive science, or psychology? And have you read a recent peer-reviewed paper that you would like to write about? Please send suggestions to Mind Matters editor Gareth Cook, a Pulitzer prize-winning journalist at the Boston Globe. He can be reached at garethideas AT gmail.com or Twitter @garethideas .

Nobody Really Knows Why We Dream

An extensive literature review reveals a startling lack of consensus around why we dream, though neurologists have made important discoveries.

The video is beautiful. An octopus, dozing in a tank, continuously changes color like a tentacled kaleidoscope. While it’s impossible to prove, the snoozing octopus is most likely dreaming (what does an octopus dream about?). But whether octopus or human, dreams have one thing in common: their purpose is unclear .

In an extensive 2012 literature review, the psychologist Matthew Merced notes that, even though nobody knows for certain why we dream, advances in the technology and techniques of brain research have at least helped explain how we dream. Humans, at least, dream a lot, multiple times a night, and the brain is very active during dream periods. Dreaming must be important, even if it remains mysterious.

Early dreaming studies were, frankly, pretty primitive. Researchers would wait for the Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep to begin, then wake the subject up and ask about any dreams. Dreaming occurs during non-REM (NREM) sleep as well, but those dreams tend to be less vivid. Now, thanks to PET scans, it is known that large areas of the brain, covering such functions as motor control and sensory processing, all become active during dreams. Chemical changes occur as well, especially during REM: acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that fires up the brain and forces muscles to contract, ramps up production. Unsurprisingly, areas of the brain controlling awareness and consciousness remain dormant.

Taken together, these chemical changes seem to stimulate a condition similar to wakefulness, but without any of the trappings of being awake. Images in dreams come entirely from the brain: visual sensory input is shut down; even open eyes will not process images during dreaming. Parts of the brain that control emotions are running full steam, perhaps explaining why dreams can be full of strong emotions, like terror or joy or sadness. Rational parts of the brain remain dormant, so insane events are accepted without question.

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But back again to why. Is it possible there is no why? Many researchers think that dreams are simply the product of chemical changes in the brain during sleep. In this view, dreams are evolutionary hitchhikers: REM sleep is beneficial, and dreams tag along with it. The fact that we mostly forget our dreams lends some support to this view: Memory formation systems are mostly turned off during dreaming.

Assuming there is a purpose, natural selection suggests that dreaming must provide some sort of survival benefit. Why spend energy on involuntary movements and brain activation if nothing is being achieved? One possibility is that dreams are kind of a virtual reality world, a space where humans can safely practice coping with threats (being chased, for example, is pretty common). REM sleep and dreaming may also help process important or traumatic memories. Finally, there is a theory that dreams are a way for the brain to rid itself of information it isn’t using, a sort of “psychic disk cleanup.” According to Merced, any of these explanations could be correct. Sweet dreams to all, humans and octopuses alike!

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Understanding Dreams

Reviewed by Psychology Today Staff

Dreams are imaginary sequences—some with clear narratives, and some without—that play out in people’s minds as they sleep. Most dreams consist of a series of images, sensations, and emotions, and range from pleasant and exciting to boring or even terrifying.

Dreams have long captured the imagination of humankind; early in recorded history, they were thought to be messages from deities or a means to predict the future. In more recent years, they have drawn the focus of psychologists, neurologists, philosophers, and biologists, all of whom continue to study dreams, what they mean, and why dreaming is necessary for humans and animals alike.

On This Page

• What We Know About Dreaming
• Understanding Common Dreams

Despite the fact that everyone is thought to dream, there remains much that we don’t understand about how dreaming occurs, how long it lasts, and the exact purpose—or purposes—that it serves. What is known, however, is that dreams appear primarily in the Rapid Eye Movement (REM) stage of sleep and are typically accompanied by high levels of brain activity and some physical movement (particularly in the eyes). Even people who never recall dreaming are thought to dream at least occasionally, but the fact that they take place during sleep means that researchers have difficulty confirming whether or not dreams actually occur.

Many researchers believe that dreaming has a purpose , but what exactly that purpose is remains an open question. Some believe it helps the brain consolidate memories and may aid learning; others believe it allows the brain to simulate threats to better protect itself in the future. More philosophical and psychodynamic theories suggest that dreams help us process difficult thoughts, emotions, and experiences in order to boost psychological well-being upon waking.

Forgetting dreams is far from uncommon. Many (if not most) dreams are forgotten, either immediately after waking or later on. Some researchers refer to immediately-forgotten dreams as “white dreams” ; some evidence suggests that as many as one-third of awakenings are associated with white dreams, and may be due to the fact that the brain does not encode memories the same way while dreaming as it does while awake.

Someone who wants to remember their dreams more often can take certain steps to do so, such as keeping a journal by their bed so they can record details from their dreams immediately upon waking.

The National Sleep Foundation estimates that in a typical 8-hour night, approximately 2 hours (at least) is spent dreaming. While dreaming is theorized to be most prevalent during REM sleep (which comprises approximately 20 percent of overall sleep time), some evidence suggests that dreaming can occur to some extent in other stages of sleep as well; if such findings are supported further, they may indicate that people dream all (or most) of the time .

Estimates range from a few seconds to up to 45 minutes; since people typically have several dreams in an evening, it’s highly likely that the length of individual dreams varies over the course of a night. Researchers have no exact way to measure how long dreams last , but they are able to estimate based on sleep stages, dream recall, and physical signs. Early in the night, dreams are thought to be shorter; the longest dreams are theorized to occur right before waking.

Yes; in fact, it’s likely more common than not. As their body and brain cycle through the different sleep stages, people typically go in and out of several different dreams. The dreams that occur right after someone drifts off are typically the shortest; dreams tend to get longer as the night progresses and the individual spends longer amounts of time in each sleep phase.

The phrase “lucid dreaming” refers to dreams in which the person recognizes that they are dreaming and feels as if they can take control of what happens in the dream. Most people are thought to experience lucid dreaming at least once in their lifetime; a smaller percentage report doing so regularly. Some evidence suggests that specific strategies such as self-suggestion (the dreamer saying to himself that he will have a lucid dream before falling asleep) may increase the odds of an individual triggering a lucid dream .

Many dreams are entirely unique. But some dream themes may be universal; indeed, multiple studies have found that people from different locations, cultures, and ethnic groups report several common dream themes. Certain dream themes may be indicative of stress or preoccupation with a particular person or event, but most experts agree that dreams don’t necessarily “mean” anything or indicate the individual’s true nature. Many people are occasionally alarmed by the content of their dreams. But it may give them comfort to know that the vast majority of people have had unpleasant or embarrassing dreams and that such dreams do not indicate any abnormality.

Some of the most common dream themes include being chased, falling, going to school, or engaging in sexual activity. Other research indicates that dreams about flying , trying to do the same thing over and over again, or spending time with someone who is dead in real life may also be common around the globe.

Whether dreams really mean anything—or whether they’re just random images cobbled together by the brain—has been debated by psychologists and neuroscientists for many years. Freud, for instance, theorized that dreams give insight into the unconscious mind and provide clues to one’s deeper self; though many modern researchers disagree with his theories, some continue to speculate that dream imagery is relevant to our day-to-day emotional states and may signal that certain thoughts are preoccupying us. Some neurologists, on the other hand, theorize that dreams are just a side effect of memory consolidation and other brain-based processes, with little to no meaning beyond that. Many lay people, however, instinctively feel as if their dreams are trying to tell them something, and the question remains up for debate in many corners of the scientific community.

Someone who is deeply stressed about work or a personal situation may very well find the same scenario popping up in their dreams. It’s no surprise, then, that some researchers believe that one potential purpose of dreams is to help the brain process stress and other difficult emotions. Stress dreams typically focus on the more mundane aspects of daily life—an upcoming deadline, for instance—but people who live through traumatic events or natural disasters (like earthquakes or the COVID-19 pandemic) also report repetitive stress dreams centering on the event.

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177 Dream Research Topics & How to Write a Research Paper on Dreams

People have dreams every night. Dreams are different – sweet dreams and nightmares, colored and colorless. However, every psychologist knows that people need to sleep. Why? Well, let us give you the right to answer this question in your research paper on dreams.

A research paper on dreams is a serious research project. That is why you cannot simply write how dreams can be interpreted or describe your dreams in the research paper on dreams. Research papers on dreams require more serious topics and approach.

Below you will find several possible ideas for research papers on dreams.

• 🔎 Dreams Research Topics
• 💤 Dreams Definition
• ✍️ How to Write about Dreams

😴 Easy Research Topics on Dreams

🛌 essay about dreams topics, 😪 topics for a research paper on sleep and dreams, ✏️ importance of sleep essay topics, 👻 nightmare essay topics.

• 📝 My Dreams Essay – Example

✅ Interesting Facts about Dreams

🔎 dreams research topics – 2024.

• The link between our dreams and emotions.
• What is the role of dreaming in creativity development?
• The gender-based patterns in dreaming experience.
• Sigmund Freud and his theory of dreams.
• The key mechanisms that underlie dreaming.
• What knowledge can you gain from your dreams?
• The impact of eating patterns on the quality of dreams.
• How do different cultures perceive and interpret dreams?
• The advantages and disadvantages of dreaming.
• How can people control their dreams?
• The role of dreams in processing emotions.
• How do bizarre and emotionally intense dreams occur?

💤 What Are Dreams?

Psychologists are sure that dreams are the result of what we wish or think about when we are awake. For example, Freud, a famous psychologist, considered that if a man did not have sexual relations for a long time, he would dream about them. If you think about someone, you may also dream about him/her. This is what you may write about in the research paper on dreams if you want to consider this aspect.

Nightmares can also be a very interesting issue to discuss in research papers on dreams. Psychologists relate nightmares to the field of “unconscious”. Very often, people forget about the stressful situations they once had. However, those situations are reflected in their minds and they can appear in dreams. You may also find other points of view on nightmares and discuss them in your research paper on dreams.

✍️ How to Write a Research Paper about Dreams

A research paper about dreams generally includes an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. First, it is crucial to choose a relevant and exciting topic to write on and decide on the type of research paper (analytical, argumentative, etc.).

Choosing a Topic

Pick a topic that corresponds to your interests and expertise. It will help you stay more motivated throughout the research process. In addition, ensure that your topic is specific, relevant, and follows the assignment instructions.

If you need help choosing a good topic for your paper, try our free research title generator .

Finding Sources

After you have found a perfect topic on dreams, it is time to look for sources for your research. You can look up information in books, similar research papers, or online sources. Communicating with professionals related to dreams , like psychologists or neurologists, is also a good idea since it is an effective method to gain new knowledge or advice.

Writing a Research Paper

The format of your research paper on dreams should consist of the following elements:

• The relation between dreaming and the role of deep-brain structures.
• Dreaming capacity to repeatedly simulate potential threatening events.
• The role of amygdala and hippocampus in the dreaming process.
• The spiritual significance of dreams in different cultures.
• Dream interpretation and its value in self-understanding.
• How does dream recall reflect social relationships?
• The positive impact of dreams on our physical health.
• Dreams and their role in predicting the future.
• The peculiarities of dreams in pregnant women.
• Why does Charcot-Wilbrand syndrome cause the loss of the ability to dream?
• The role of dreaming in developing cognitive capabilities.
• How can dreams reflect the aging process?
• The repetitive character of some dreams and their meaning.
• Why are young people more likely to dream in color?
• The benefits and cautions of lucid dreaming.
• The influence of smartphones on the content of dreams.
• Why do people forget their dreams after waking up?
• The impact of suppressing intrusive thoughts on dream content.
• What is the role of dreams in developing long-term memory?
• The key causes and types of dreams.
• The peculiarities of dreaming during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Everything you need to know about lucid dreams.
• The role of melatonin in determining the dream content.
• What can we learn from our dreams?
• The psychotomimetic nature of dreams.
• The terrors of sleep paralysis.
• Does screen time affect people’s dreams?
• Dreams and the future of sleep technology.
• Are AI technologies capable of generating dreams?
• The hidden cost of insufficient sleep.
• How can nap breaks improve your productivity at work?
• The main facts and myths about sleep and dreams.
• How can our understanding of dreams shape our worldview?
• The link between dreams and telepathy.
• The process of dreaming in animals.
• Why do some people wake up in the middle of the night?
• The impact of mental illnesses on dream content.
• The role of dreams in art as a source of inspiration.
• How do different societies interpret dreams?
• The power of dreaming in everyday life.
• How to become a morning person: the key strategies.
• The impact of sleep time on life length.
• Ways to decode the language of sleep.
• Using cannabis as a method to cope with nightmares.
• The impact of the daily schedule on improving the quality of sleep.
• How to get a good night’s sleep in a new place?
• Methods to combat morning grogginess.
• Taking care of your sleep as one of the pillars of health.
• The use of dreams in filmmaking and book writing.
• The phenomenon of dreaming during sleep.
• The main phases of sleep in a sleep cycle.
• How is alpha activity measured during sleep?
• The use of oneirology in uncovering the dreaming process.
• Dreaming in Christianity and Islam.
• What is the connection between race and sleep disorders?
• The theory of astral projection during sleep.
• The effect of sleep on pain thresholds and sensitivity.
• The consequences of chronic daytime sleepiness.
• Why is dreaming a key part of a sleep cycle?
• The natural patterns of sleeping in children and teenagers.
• REM and non-REM sleep : the difference.
• What is biphasic sleep, and how does it work?
• The influence of dreams on musical creativity.
• The cultural significance of dream symbols.
• How do moon phases affect your sleep?
• The nature and functions of dreaming.
• The use of dream content during expressive arts therapy.
• What are the possible functions of REM sleep and dreaming?
• The value of dreaming and sleep tracking.
• The analysis of mental activity of sleep and disturbing dreams.
• How do sleep disturbances impact skin health?
• The impact of age on our circadian rhythm.
• The phenomenon of conscious control in dreams.
• How do sleep patterns change across different life stages?
• The influence of sleep quality on academic performance.
• The psychological theories of dreaming purpose.
• The disadvantages of oversleeping for adults.
• How does your body use calories while you sleep?
• Factors influencing the memory of dreams.
• What impact does alcohol have on the sleep cycle and dreaming?
• How can dreams contribute to the healing process?
• The role of sleep in underlying psychological issues.
• The benefits of daytime napping for young people.
• Why does sleep deprivation increase the risk of substance abuse?
• The use of daytime naps to increase imagination.
• The value of bedtime routine for toddlers.
• The benefits of a good night’s sleep.
• What is the role of sleeping in achieving life goals?
• Lack of sleep as a key cause of hormonal imbalance.
• The damaging effect of shift work on sleep patterns and health.
• The link between sleep and the immune system.
• What impact does a change of clocks by an hour have on public health?
• The value of sleep for children’s physical, cognitive, and emotional development.
• What would happen if you did not sleep?
• The importance of sleep for children’s development and growth.
• The connection between good mood and quality sleep.
• Why does the lack of sleep increase aggression?
• The role of sleeping in cancer prevention and treatment.
• The value of sleep for the recovery process of athletes.
• How does the quality of sleep impact metabolism?

Essay about Sleep Deprivation

• The economic impact of sleep deprivation in the workplace.
• How can sleep deprivation lead to anxiety and depression?
• The role of sleep deprivation in worsening obesity and diabetes.
• The use of sleeping pills in sleep deprivation treatment.
• How is sleep deprivation diagnosed?
• The prevalence of sleep deprivation among shift workers.
• What is the difference between sleep deprivation and insomnia?
• The key stages of sleep deprivation.
• The role of DNA in the development of sleep deprivation.
• The unique challenges in diagnosing obstructive sleep deprivation.
• How does sleep deprivation affect the human body?
• The issue of sleep deprivation in teenagers due to exams.
• The role of medications in managing sleep deprivation.
• Ways of reducing the risk of developing sleep deprivation.
• What are the key symptoms of sleep deprivation?

Why Is Sleep Important? Essay Topics

• The efficiency of sleeping in losing weight.
• How can sleep improve concentration and productivity?
• Sleep as essential component of healthy aging.
• Why can a lack of sleep be dangerous?
• Sleep satisfaction and its impact on energy level.
• How is poor sleep linked to depression?
• The impact of sleep on emotional intelligence.
• How does sleep help to repair and restore tissues?
• The role of sleeping in removing toxins from the brain.
• Why can the lack of sleep be lethal?
• The link between sleep quality and mental resilience.
• Sleep loss and its impact on reducing the ability to regulate emotions.
• The role of sleep in the regulation of the central nervous system.
• How can the quality of sleep strengthen your heart?
• Sleeping as a method to maximize athletic performance.

Sleeping Disorders Essay Topics

• The connection between sleep disorders and dreaming.
• Do congenitally blind people have visual dreams?
• The effective ways of coping with insomnia.
• Sleep difficulties and their physical and emotional consequences.
• How does weight affect sleep apnea in adults?
• Breathing practices and their efficiency in overcoming sleep disorders.
• The key symptoms of sleep-related hypoventilation .
• What are the risk factors for sleep disorders?
• Minimizing stress as a method to cope with obstructive sleep apnea.
• The side effects of sleep disorder treatment.
• What are the major categories of sleep disorders, and how do they differ?
• Restless legs syndrome as one of the sleep disorder types.
• The effectiveness of light therapy in sleep disorder treatment.
• The peculiarities of sleep disorder diagnosis.
• How to deal with rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder?
• Nightmare disorder and its impact on sleep quality.
• The role of negative thinking, stress, and anxiety in worsening nightmares.
• How may nightmares help to express unresolved emotions?
• The influence of nightmares on interpersonal relationships.
• The use of cognitive behavioral therapy in nightmare treatment.
• Are nightmares a possible consequence of drug abuse?
• The key symptoms of experiencing nightmares.
• The health effects of nightmares in adults.
• How are nightmares connected to waking activity?
• The possible consequences of nightmares.
• The efficiency of psychotherapy in nightmare treatment.
• The main causes of nightmares and methods to cope with them.
• How are nightmares different from sleep terrors?
• The role of sleep hygiene practices in preventing nightmares.
• How do nightmares affect the daily life of teenagers?
• Nightmares as a result of trauma-related experience.
• The link between nightmares and sleep paralysis.
• How does genetics impact the occurrence of nightmares?
• The neurobiological aspects of nightmares in children.
• The risk factors of having nightmare disorder.

📝 My Dreams Essay – Example

We have prepared a dream essay example to show you how everything works in practice!

How Do Different Societies Interpret Dreams?

Throughout history, dreams have been a mysterious experience for people worldwide, receiving various interpretations in many different countries and cultures. From ancient times to the present, people have believed that dreams provide crucial insights into our inner being and may even impact our perception of the universe.

For example, in ancient Egypt, snakes were often associated with danger, deceit, and the underworld. At the same time, seeing calm water in a dream was a good sign that meant peace and tranquility. If people were flying while asleep, it symbolized spiritual growth and escape from mortal concerns.

In ancient Mesopotamia, animals were frequently seen as symbols of the dreamer's personality traits. For instance, a lion might symbolize strength and power, while a sheep could represent humility and submission. Numbers also had a special meaning. People believed their appearance in dreams could be interpreted as messages from the gods.

Nowadays, people still interpret dreams in various ways based on their personal beliefs and traditions. However, it is crucial to understand that there is no correct or incorrect approach to interpreting dreams. The essential thing is to discover a method that resonates with you, allowing you to obtain insights into your subconscious mind. The use of the internet in academic contexts is on the rise, and its role in learning is hotly debated. For many teachers who did not grow up with this technology, its effects seem alarming and potentially harmful. The use of the internet in academic contexts is on the rise, and its role in learning is hotly debated. For many teachers who did not grow up with this technology, its effects seem alarming and potentially harmful.

Do you want to make your research paper on dreams interesting? Then, include a couple of facts into your research paper on dreams:

• Blind people dream;
• You forget 90% of your dreams;
• Dreams prevent psychosis;
• Not everyone sees colorful dreams;
• When you are snoring, you are not dreaming.

Who knows, maybe you will manage to interpret one of these facts from the psychological point of view in your research paper on dreams.

On our blog, useful information on how to write a good research paper and make a cover page for research papers can also be found.

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What Do You Think About Your Dreams? The Construction of a Belief About Dreams Questionnaire

1 Department of Clinical Psychology, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410013, People’s Republic of China

Feilong Yang

2 Psychosomatic Health Institute, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410013, People’s Republic of China

3 Medical Psychological Center, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, People’s Republic of China

4 Center for Psychological Development and Service, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, 410208, People’s Republic of China

5 Mental Health Education Center, Hunan University of Technology and Business, Changsha, Hunan, 410205, People’s Republic of China

Yunlong Deng

Background and purpose.

Nightmare distress (ND) is associated with a broad spectrum of psychopathological conditions such as anxiety, depression and bipolar disorder. Some studies have indicated that dream beliefs play an important role in the occurrence and treatment of nightmare distress. However, existing instruments used to assess dream beliefs either fail to satisfy the requirements of the psychometrics or fail to capture the essence of dream beliefs. This research pursued two objectives: (1) to develop a questionnaire, called the Beliefs About Dreams Questionnaire (BADQ), to measure beliefs people hold about their dreams and (2) to describe the dream beliefs of Chinese college students.

The structure and items on the BADQ were based on the previous literature and were the result of an open questionnaire. Some items were deleted through expert review and the result of predict test. To evaluate its validity and reliability, a sample of 1408 Chinese college students from two universities answered the BADQ, the Chinese version of Van Dream Anxiety Scale (CVDAS), the Dream Survey Questionnaire (DSQ), the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7(GAD-7) Questionnaire. After two weeks, 95 of them answered the BADQ again. Exploratory factor analysis (n=704) and confirmatory factor analysis (n=704) were conducted to explore and verify the structure of BADQ. The correlation between the CVDAS and the BADQ was calculated to evaluate the divergent validity.

The BADQ contains 26 items. Exploratory factor analysis indicated a five-factor structure: Dream omen and health, Dream superstitions, Dream meaninglessness, Dream reality, and Dream attitude. The result of the confirmatory factor analysis also supported the five-factors structure. Acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach’s α of all subscales exceeded 0.80) and ordinary to moderate test-retest reliability (the intraclass correlation coefficient of all subscales ranged from 0.467 to 0.713) of the BADQ were presented. Low degree correlation between the CVDAS and the BADQ (ranged from to −0.052 to 0.219) showed that they were two different variables, indicating a good divergent validity.

The present investigation revealed moderate to high construct validity and reliability of the BADQ.

Introduction

Nightmares are disturbing dreams that involve unpleasant emotions such as anxiety, fear, sadness, anger, and desperation and result in abrupt awakenings. 1 , 2 A number of studies have suggested that the frequency and distress of nightmares are related to a broad spectrum of mental health disorders. 3 – 7 Nightmare distress (ND) refers to the waking suffering or distress associated with nightmares, 8 , 9 which mainly consists of sleep-related complaints and daytime dysfunction. 10 With the deepening of the research, numerous researchers have pointed out that compared with nightmare frequency (NF), ND is more closely related to psychopathology, 8 , 9 , 11 , 12 especially for psychological disorders marked by a high level of negative affect (eg, anxiety and depression). 13 , 14

In the field of ND, Belicki believes that ND partly arises from the people’s views and their evaluation of their dreams after they wake up. 9 In one of his studies, he interviewed people with frequent nightmare but different level of ND, and he found that high-distress people regarded their nightmares more seriously, paid more attention to their nightmares, and were less likely to dismiss their nightmare as merely dreams (e.g., they see nightmares as a sign that something bad will happen). 9 Furthermore, researchers also found that in the treatment of nightmares, ND can be effectively reduced by modifying the beliefs about dreams (e.g., that what happens in dreams will come true). In a treatment study for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), nightmare distress was reduced by psychoeducation, which allowed beliefs about dreams to be corrected. 15 In a clinical treatment of nightmares, Belicki taught nightmare sufferers to modify their beliefs about nightmares (instead of attempting to reduce nightmare frequency) and found that ND was alleviated. 16 As mentioned above, we know that people’s beliefs about dreams play an important role in the occurrence and treatment of nightmare distress.

Besides, the associations between dream beliefs and other variables (e.g., dream recall frequency, dream content, physical health, personality, and treatment effect) also indicated the importance of dream beliefs. Some researchers suggested that those who regarded dreams as meaningful and valuable reported a higher dream recall frequency. 17 – 19 Hall’s study suggested that people who deemed dreams have no meaning tended to be creative and think independently. 20 King and Decicco found that individuals who hold the belief that dreams reflect their physical health reported more body parts in their dreams and showed significantly lower physical functioning, and people who were indifferent to their dreams actually reported higher levels of well-being. 21 Furthermore, people who believed that dreams contained information about spiritual beliefs reported fewer misfortunes in their dreams, and they scored higher on meta-personal self-construal. 21 A therapy patient who views dreams as symbolic and psychological will gain more useful information from his or her dream during psycho-analytical treatment. 22 Several studies have found gender differences concerning dream beliefs; usually, females have a more positive attitude toward their dreams than males, and they are more likely to believe that dreams have some special functions, such as reflecting our daily life or carrying a message from God or the devil. 19 , 23 – 25 In conclusion, dream beliefs are important, and it is necessary for us to be concerned with them.

Nowadays, several questionnaires and scales are used to study dream beliefs. Hall developed a 35-items Dream Belief Questionnaire (DBQ), which contained eight types of dream beliefs. 20 However, in this scale, two subscales (mystical and religious) had a similar meaning. For example, “I believe that a dream can carry a message from the spirit world (mystical)” and “I believe that a dream can contain a spiritual or religious message (religious)”. It is inappropriate that two similar dimensions appear in one scale. Dominic et al developed the Inventory of Dream Experiences & Attitude (IDEA) to assess dream beliefs. 26 Some of the 50 items measured dream beliefs, and other items measured dream content and dream recall. It is known that dream recall and content do not figure into dream beliefs; therefore, this questionnaire cannot accurately capture the importance of dream beliefs. Mazandarani et al developed the Iranian version of the Dream Belief Questionnaire, called My Beliefs About Dream Questionnaire (MBDQ). 27 MBDQ contained 25 items and identified six subscales. However, the last subscale “Dreams as essential to health,” only had two items, which does not meet the requirements of psychometrics. 28 Furthermore, except for “Dream as carrying a message”, the internal consistency coefficient for the other five subscales were found to be 0.65 or lower, suggesting that these factors are somewhat heterogeneous. 29 At present, only one dream attitude scale has been used in China, but this scale has not been standardized. 30 As mentioned above, the existing instruments are subject to shortcomings. Since ancient times, China has a keen interest and a unique view about dreams. It is worthwhile to develop a new questionnaire that combines the existing achievements with Chinese native culture to measure Chinese people’s beliefs about dreams.

This research pursued two main objectives: (1) to develop a questionnaire, the Beliefs about Dreams Questionnaire (BADQ), to measure beliefs people hold about their dreams. (2) to describe the dream beliefs of Chinese college students. For the purposes of this study, dream beliefs are defined as people’s views on dreams, including whether dreams having meanings, and what these meanings are.

Scale Design and Development

In formulating the dimensions of dream beliefs, we made use of existing measures of dream beliefs. We excluded the dimensions that are not related to the dream beliefs, and added dimensions based on the literature to create our preset dimensions: Dream omen (e.g., I believe that what I have dreamed may happen), Dream reality (e.g., I believe that dream contents are linked with my experiences), Dream creativity (e.g., I believe that a dream can inspire me), Dream health (e.g., I believe that dreams are related to a dreamer’s health and mood state), Dream superstition (e.g., I believe that we can communicate with people who have passed away through dreams), Dream learn (e.g., I believe that dreams can consolidate memories), and Dream attitude (e.g., I like dreaming).

Items were compiled in three ways. First, many the items are based on previous scales measuring beliefs about dreams, such as the BDQ, the IDEA and the MADQ. Second, we reviewed Chinese classical literature, refined the description of dreams in Chinese culture, and then compiled some items. Third, we developed an open questionnaire and surveyed 150 college students, and some items were added using the results of the open questionnaire. This led to the original version of the Beliefs about Dreams Questionnaire, which included 52 items describing different beliefs about dreams.

To ensure the content validity of the questionnaire, 14 psychologists were invited to evaluate the questionnaire. They modified the wording of some items, deleted the duplicated items, and ensured that the sentences are simple and easy to understand. Finally, 29 items were left. These 29 items were tested by 128 college students, and none of the items were deleted after the item analysis. There were no any sentences that were difficult to understand.

The instructions were

Some attitudes and beliefs about dreams follow. Please read them carefully and state your opinion (to what extent you agree or disagree) on each sentence. Please answer the question according to your general attitude and opinion in most cases.

The response format entailed a five-point Likert-type scale reflecting similarity ratings (1=strongly disagree, 2= disagree, 3=neutral or do not know, 4=agree, 5=strongly agree).

Participants

The cluster stratified random sampling method was used to conduct a collective survey in two universities (Hunan Business University and Hunan University of Chinese Medicine). The participants included 1600 undergraduate students: 1408 (606 males, 802 females) fully completed the questionnaires. The effective return ration was 88%. The mean age of the sample was 19.39 (SD=1.63), with ages ranging from 16 to 25. We randomly divided the subjects into two equal groups using the SPSS algorithm. The first group, for exploratory analysis, consisted of 704 people, and the second group, for confirmatory analysis, consisted of 704 people. In order to examine the test-retest reliability of the BADQ, 110 students were randomly chosen for a second round of testing after two weeks, and 95 completed the BADQ. Participants under the age of 18 years not required parental content to join in this research. The research protocol was approved by the local ethics committee. The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki.

All participants were informed of the purpose and content of the study, and informed consent was obtained. Participants used their break time or elective course time to complete the questionnaire. The questionnaire takes 15–20 mins to complete. All materials were collected within two weeks.

Dream Survey Questionnaire

An original Dream Survey Questionnaire (see Appendix ) was developed and utilized; items were selected from the Mannheim Dream Questionnaire 31 and Sleep and Dream Questionnaire. 4 Dream recall frequency was measured with a question requiring participants to estimate the number of dreams typically recalled per week. To determine nightmare and bad dream frequency, two seven-point scales (1=never, 2=less than once a month, 3=about once a month, 4=about two to three times a month, 5=about once a week, 6=several times a week, 7=almost every morning) were used.

The Chinese Version of Van Dream Anxiety Scale (CVDAS)

We used the Chinese version of Van Dream Anxiety Scale (CVDAS) to measure ND. The CVDAS is an assessment instrument that can evaluate dream anxiety caused by nightmare. Wang et al tested its reliability and validity in a Chinese population. 14 The contents of CVDAS include most impacts of nightmares on health, such as sleep problems, morning anxiety, psychological problems, impairment of daytime functioning, and autonomic symptoms. The CVDAS consists of 17 items, among which four items (items 7–10) are used to collect clinical information and are not included in the total scores, and the remaining 12 items are rated on a five-point Likert scale ranging from 0 (never) to 4 (often). Item 5 is related to autonomic hyperactivity and consists of 12 symptoms. Each of the 12 symptoms is also rated on a 0–4 scale. If the total score obtained for the 12 symptom scores is between 0 and 10, the sum score of this item is 0; if it is between 11 and 20, it is 1; if it is between 21 and 30, it is 2; if it is between 31 and 40, it is 3; and if it is between 41 and 48, it is 4. Thus, the scores for the 13 items are summed up to yield a global CVDAS score of 0–52. The CVDAS showed excellent internal consistency (Cronbach’s α coefficient was 0.926) and good test-retest reliability (the intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.942).

The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9)

Depression will be assessed using the patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9). The PHQ-9 consists of nine items. All items are rated on a four-point scale (ranging from 0 to 3), with higher total scores indicating more severe depression (scores of 5–9, 10–14, 15–19 and ≥20 indicate mild, moderately severe, and severe depression, respectively). 32 The PHQ-9 demonstrates high internal consistency (Cronbach’s α between 0.86 and 0.89) and high test-rest reliability (ICC between 0.84 and 0.95). 32 – 34 The Chinese version of the PHQ-9 is a nine-items, self-reported inventory that has shown good reliability and validity (Cronbach’s α=0.86). 33

The Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) Questionnaire

Anxiety will be assessed using the generalized anxiety disorder-7 questionnaire (GAD-7). It is a seven-item self-reported scale which is used to measure the severity of generalized anxiety disorders. 35 All items are rated on a four-point scale; the total score ranges from 0 to 21. Scores of 5–9, 10–14 and ≥15 indicate mild, moderate, and severe anxiety, respectively. 35 The GAD-7 has shown good validity and reliability in several languages (Cronbach’s α between 0.89 and 0.92). 35 – 37 The Chinese version of GAD-7 showed an excellent internal consistency (Cronbach’s α coefficient was 0.898) and good test-retest reliability (the intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.856). 37

Data Analysis

SPSS24.0 and Amos23.0 were used to analyze data. The exploratory factor analysis (EFA), using principal axis factoring (PAF) and Promax rotation, was employed to explore the factor structure. Meanwhile, Amos 23.0 was used to perform confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to verify the structural validity of the questionnaire. Means and standard deviations of the BADQ and the correlation between the factors were calculated. To study the internal consistency of the BADQ, the Cronbach’ α was calculated. Intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to analysis the test-retest reliability. The correlation between the CVDAS and of the BADQ was calculated to test the divergent validity of BADQ.

In addition to the basic reliability and validity analysis, we also did some auxiliary analysis. In order to verify if there were gender differences between participants on dream beliefs, an independent-samples t -test was computed. To better understand the variation and variability of BADQ, a hierarchical cluster analysis was used. The cluster analysis, which allows for the systematic identification, organization, and description of behavioral patterns observed within a group of individuals, 38 was performed on group participants based on similarities in the types of dream beliefs. The Ward method and Euclidean distance were used for computing cluster analysis. 38 The final clusters were identified based on interpretability of clusters and also based on the significant difference between two clusters. Next, an independent-samples t -test or analyses of variance (ANOVAs) were used to compare the difference between dream beliefs and various variables (e.g., nightmare distress, nightmare and bad dream frequency, dream recall frequency, and psychopathology).

Item Analyses

There were no items that produced an extreme means, and there were not any items that showed a 75% endorsement of a single Likert response. Items 11, 12, and 14 were dropped due to redundancy (they were correlated 0.612, 0.630, 0.721 with other items). The total scores of all items in the questionnaire were ranked from low to high. The first 27% were selected as the low group and the last 27% as the high group. The mean values of the two groups on the same question were tested for differences, and all items reached a significant level.

Structure Validity

The EFA was performed on scores from a randomly selected subsample (n=704). The significance of Bartlett’s test of sphericity was observed (χ 2 =9680.23, p<0.001). The KMO value was 0.914, which was considered perfect. 39 These results suggested that the factor analysis was appropriate. The final analysis, which produced the best solution, was comprised of 26 items. As is seen in Table 1 , five factors were extracted (based on an eigenvalue>1 and scree criterion). In totally, these factors accounted for a total of 63.88% of the variance in item responses (Factor 1=32.24%, Factor 2 =13.08%, Factor 3=8.78%, Factor 4=5.26% and Factor 5=4.51%). According to the results of the EFA and the content of the five factors, the five factors were labeled as follows: Factor 1 (7 items): Dream omen and health, Factor 2 (6 items): Dream superstition, Factor 3 (5 items): Dream meaninglessness, Factor 4 (4 items): Dream reality, Factor 5 (4 items): Dream attitude.

Factor Loadings for BADQ Items in Pattern Matrix

Note: Bold data indicates which factor the items belong to.

The CFA was conducted on the remaining members of the sample (n=704) using maximum likelihood estimation to evaluate the fitness of the EFA identified five-factor model. Generally, the cut-offs for acceptable fit are χ 2 /df≤5, RMSEA≤0.08 and GFI, CFI and IFI≥0.9. 40 As is shown in Table 2 , the five-factor model (model 1) did not fit the data well. We therefore modified the model according to the item contents and modification index. Both item 17 (“I believe that dreams can affect mental health”) and item 18 (“I believe that dreams are related to a dreamer’s health and mood state”) belonged to Factor 1: Dream omen and health. Both of the two items were associated with health, so the error correlation between item 17 and 18 was acceptable. After setting the error of these two items as free estimation, model 2 was established, and the CFA was conducted again. As is seen in Table 2 , model 2 fitted the data well.

Comparison of Fitting Indexed for Models 1 and 2 (N=704)

Pearson correlations between the factors of the BADQ were calculated ( Table 3 ), ranging from −0.251 (Dream meaninglessness and Dream attitude) to 0.656 (Dream omen & health and Dream attitude). Just as we expected, Dream meaninglessness was negatively correlated with the other four factors.

Pearson Intercorrelations Between BADQ Factors, Reliability and Divergent Validity

Notes: *p<0.05, **p<0.01

Abbreviations: CVDAS, the Chinese version of Van Dream Anxiety Scale; ICC, interclass correlation coefficient.

Divergent Validity

The divergent validity of the scale was evaluated through the examination of correlations between the BADQ and the CVDAS (see Table 3 ). Both the BADQ and then CVDAS are used to measure dreams, but the former focuses on beliefs and the latter focuses on subjective distress. A low correlation with other confounding variables indicates good divergent validity. 41 The four factors of BADQ were found to show consistently positive correlations of low magnitude with the ND measure of the CVDAS (r=0.150 for Dream omen and health, r=0.219 for Dream superstitions, r=0.050 for Dream reality and r=0.125 for Dream attitude). Dream meaninglessness was negatively correlated with CVDAS (r=−0.052) in a low magnitude. These findings indicated that the BADQ had good divergent validity.

Reliability

Internal consistency was evaluated by Cronbach’s α. The alpha reliabilities of all BADQ factors were high, they ranging from 0.821 to 0.902, which was acceptable 29 (Dream omen and health: α=0.848, Dream superstition: α=0.902, Dream meaninglessness: α=0.821, Dream reality: α=0.836, and Dream attitude: α=0.868) (see Table 3 ).

The test-retest reliability was tested by ICC. 42 The reliability coefficients for the Dream omen and health, Dream superstition, Dream meaninglessness, Dream reality and Dream attitude were 0.713, 0.467, 0.521, 0.497 and 0.505, respectively, reflecting ordinary to moderate stability for these factors 43 (see Table 3 ).

Gender Differences

An independent-samples t -test was used to examine the beliefs about dream across genders. As is seen in Table 4 , except for Dream attitude, females obtained significantly higher scores than males across the rest of the four factors.

Mean Score for Males and Females and Gender Difference for Each Factor of BADQ

Notes: *p<0.05, **p<0.01.

Dreamer Profiles Differences

Two distinct profiles were elucidated. In total, 412 participants (29.3% of the sample) are Indifferent Dreamers: they believe that dreams have no real meaning. The remaining 996 participants (70.3% of the sample) are Interested Dreamers: they consider dreams to be meaningful. As can be seen in Table 5 , except for Dream meaninglessness, Interested Dreamers obtained significantly higher scores than Indifferent Dreamers across the other four factors. The t -test showed a significant difference between the two profiles on DRF and in the frequency of bad dreams/nightmares. The Indifferent Dreamers showed lower level of nightmare distress, depression and anxiety than Interested Dreamers, as measured by the CVDAS, PHQ-9 and GAD-7, respectively.

Comparison Between Different Dreamers Profiles

Notes: *p<0.05, ** p<0.01.

Abbreviations: DRF, dream recall frequency; BDF, bad dream frequency; NF, nightmare frequency; CVDAS, the Chinese version of Van Dream Anxiety Scale; PHQ-9, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9; GAD-7, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 Questionnaire.

In the present study, a multidimensional scale of belief about dreams was developed. The BADQ consisted of five factors and assessed beliefs about dreams. The hypothesized Dream creativity did not emerge in this analysis. The final factors, which included Dream omen and health, Dream superstition, Dream meaninglessness, Dream reality and Dream attitude all showed adequate internal consistency, two-weeks test-retest reliability, and divergent validity. The differences in beliefs about dreams between males and females were examined. A hierarchical cluster analysis was used to divide the participants into two categories, and the Indifferent Dreamers showed higher levels of well-being than the Interested Dreamers.

Factor Interpretations

The results of the EFA and CFA provided support to the allocation of the items to the five factors. We titled Factor 1 as Dream omen and health, and it had 15% variance. This factor consisted of seven items expressing the underlying idea that dreams can foretell the future and can reflect upon one’s health. This is in line with the views of ancient Chinese thinkers and medical experts on dreams: medical experts believed that the main function of dreams was to reflect people’s health, and thinkers believed that the function of dreams was mainly to predict good or bad luck. 44 In ancient China, most people believed that dreams could foretell the future. There were professional dream interpreters and specialized books (such as the Duke of Zhou) that helped people to interpret the meaning of their dreams. Even today, there are still many people who explain their dreams using the book above. In addition, the earliest Chinese medical classics (such as Huangdi’s Classic on Medicine) explained the relationship between dreams and physical health: for example, if a person was weak, he/she would dream of water; and if the person was strong, he/she would dream of fire. 45 In Western dream theory, dreams also have these two functions. 46 , 47

The second factor was Dream superstition with six items. This factor was related to people’s beliefs that dream are closely connected to spiritual dimensions. People who scored high on this factor usually believed that dreams could reflect their previous lives and the activity of their soul. At the same time, they agreed that they could communicate with Bodhisattva, ghosts, and the dead through dreams. This factor was similar to both “Dream Guidance” in IDEA and “Carrying message” in MBAD. In ancient China, there were many literary works describing the dream superstitions. Ghosts, Bodhisattva and deceased people enter people’s dreams, make confessions, reveal the truth to clear up injustices, warn, and persuade people to be good. 48 In the famous Chinese story “Injustice to Dou E”, Dou appeared to her father in a dream and said, “I was wrongfully killed, please find out the truth”. Her father investigated and was able to wash away the grievances of Dou E. 49 Western prescientific dream theories saw dreams as messages coming from outside the individual, mostly from god-like creatures. 46

Factor 3 (Dream meaninglessness) comprised five items. Meaninglessness was similar to Hobson’s view on dreams: he asserted that dreams are the result of limbic activity and have no meaning. 50 People who scored high in this factor tended to believe that dreams had no impact on their life; consequently, they did not pay attention to their dreams. No research regarding this belief has been conducted in China. A Canadian study showed that only 6.5% of the participants thought that dreams are meaningless. 21

We named the Factor 4 as Dream reality, which was analogous to the Dream Continuity of IDEA. The four items in this factor assessed people’s beliefs that the content of their dreams is related to waking-life experiences and that dreams could reflect conscious and unconscious desires. 21 , 51 A number of patients believed that daytime problems played an important role in their dreams. 52 There is a saying in China that men do not dream of giving birth and women do not dream of bows and arrows. This is because that they have not experienced these events and, therefore, did not dream about them. 45 At present, some research supports the “continuity hypothesis”, that is, that the content of dreams reflects waking activities. 53 , 54

The last factor is Dream attitude with four items concerning people’s attitude about dreams. This factor contains items about whether participants are willing to remember their dreams, whether they are willing to share their dreams, and whether they like or dislike dreams. Only one study in China focused on the attitude towards dreams, and it found that the positive attitudes towards dreams can predict individuals’ willingness to engage in psychoanalytic interpretation therapy. 30

The result of the current study indicated that the BADQ was a reliable test for the measurement of dream beliefs. According to Cuieford, alpha coefficients greater than 0.70 are acceptable. 29 The alpha coefficients in this study for all factors were good to excellent (0.821–0.902). As all alpha coefficients in the current study were greater than 0.80, the BADQ possessed stronger internal consistency than the MADQ, which had yielded factor alphas below 0.50.

The retest results after two weeks showed that the retest correlation of the five factors of BADQ ranged from 0.467 to 0.713. A phenomenon that may affect retest reliability in the fact that we often have different views about different dreams. For example, if I dream of being rich, I hope it will come true. However, if I lose money in a dream, I will decide that the dream is fake. It is likely that participants had different dreams between the two tests, leading to ordinary(0.41<ICC<0.60) retest reliability.

The results of the current study suggest that the BADQ exhibited high levels of factorial validity. First, the degree of intercorrelation observed among the five factors ranged from weak (Dream meaninglessness/Dream superstition: −0.045) to moderate (Dream omen and health/Dream attitude: 0.656) suggesting that the factors were related but distinct. Dream meaninglessness was significantly negatively correlated with the other four factors. Second, the results of the confirmatory factor analysis indicated that the BADQ five-factor model provided a good fit of the data.

For the divergent validity, we calculated the Pearson correlation between dream beliefs and CVDAS. A Low degree of correlation showed that they were two different variables, indicating good divergent validity.

Gender Difference

When compared with males, females elicited higher scores in Dream omen and health, Dream superstition, Dream meaninglessness, and Dream reality; males and female showed similar scores in Dream Attitude. Females were more likely to agree that dreams had special functions, such as foretelling the future and reflecting mental and physical health, 27 , 46 , 55 which was the exact was the content of the Dream omen and health dimension. This study observed the same phenomenon. In the present study, females scored higher than males in Dream superstition, which was consistent with the previous result. 26 , 27 , 46 We also found that females scored higher than males in Dream meaninglessness. It was interesting that on the one hand, females agreed that dreams were meaningless, but on the other hand, they agreed that dreams had special functions as well. However, in previous studies, males generally found that dreams have no particular meaning. In Dominic’s study, he suggested that females were more likely to agree that dreams reflected our daily lives than males, 26 and we got the same result. Among the five factors, Dream attitude are the most studied. A lot of research has focused on attitudes towards dreams, and it has suggested that females generally have a more positive attitude towards dreams than males. 19 , 23 – 25 In this study, although females scored higher than males, the difference was insignificant.

Dream Profiles

As shown in the results, most of the participants (70.3%) are Interested Dreamers. The MADQ and this questionnaire have a similar structure: Mazandarani et al divided the Iranian participants into two groups using the same method (Convinced Dreamers and Unconvinced Dreamers). However, the Convinced Dreamers, who held the view that dreams are meaningful, only accounted for 57.0%. 27 Perhaps it is the strong culture of dream interpretation atmosphere in China that makes most people consider their dreams are meaningful. In future research, we can compare the differences in dream belief questionnaires (eg, BADQ and MADQ) between different regions and countries to explore cultural differences.

Furthermore, the results suggested that Interested Dreamers have a higher dream frequency (both bad dreams and nightmares) and a lower level of psychological health. What is the relationship between the frequency of nightmares/bad dreams, the belief about dreams and well-being? Maybe, as Dominic speculated, psychological distress makes people pay attention to all aspects of themselves, increasing people’s sensitivity and interest in their dream experiences. 26 Or, as well as affecting health, maybe frequent bad dreams and nightmares give people more insight into the dream itself and its content. In any case, we can know that the beliefs about dreams can reflect people’s health status.

Limitations and Directions for Future Research

The primary limitation of this research is the employment of a student sample. Such a sample may not be representative of individuals within the community or patients who suffer from nightmares, thus affecting the generalizability of our results. Besides, participants in this sample are of similar age and education; however, previous research has shown that people of different ages and education levels had different beliefs about dreams. Further research should examine the psychometric properties of the BADQ in samples more representative of the general population. Second, the design was cross-sectional, making it impossible to draw conclusions about the causality of the relationship between dream beliefs and psychological health. Does pre-existing dream beliefs influence psychological health or psychological health contribute to people’s increased sensitivity and interest in their dream? In order to figure out this question, longitudinal studies are needed.

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Miss Yin Meng and Miss Li Siya for their help in data collection.

Ethical Approval

The Institutional Review Board (IRB) of The Third Xiangya Hospital in Hunan approved the study (2019-S255).

The authors declared no conflicts of interests in this work.

Dream Interpretation

Written by Dr. Michael Breus

People have been fascinated with the interpretation of dreams since ancient times, when they were thought to contain religious or spiritual messages. Some people and cultures maintain that perspective, but since then, countless other theories about what dreams mean have been proposed and investigated.

Today, there are hundreds of books available on how to interpret dreams. Many mental health professionals still use dream analysis in their practices. However, scientists still do not know the precise purpose dreaming serves.

Although researchers haven’t found a definitive answer about what our dreams mean, it can be fascinating to dive into current and historic ideas about dreaming and learn about the varied explanations that have been explored over the years.

Theories on Why We Dream

Experts are not sure why people dream. Throughout history, many scientists, psychologists, and anthropologists have come up with theories.

• Emotional processing: Some believe dreams help us process strong emotions. People who are stressed are more likely to have upsetting dreams. In addition, people often have recurring dreams about themes or situations that they are intensely concerned about.
• Memory formation: Parts of the brain that are in charge of memorization are active during sleep, suggesting that dreaming may play a role in memory and learning. Studies have shown that dream scenarios include fragments of memories, especially recently-learned information.
• Generalization and cognitive performance: The overfitted brain hypothesis proposes that dreams are random and strange in contrast to the repetitiveness of daily life. This contrast helps us to maintain a big-picture perspective and avoid information overload.
• No purpose: Some researchers believe that dreams do not serve any particular mental or physical purpose. Instead, they suggest that different societies have developed uses for dreams throughout history. For example, some cultures rely on dreams to predict important events.

Carl Jung and Sigmund Freud were two pioneering psychologists who studied the meaning and purpose of dreams. Each developed his own theories of why people dream and how dreams should be interpreted.

Freud’s Unconscious Mind Theory

Freud believed that individuals dream as a form of wish fulfillment. He theorized that people repress many uncomfortable desires and thoughts. Repressed ideas form what Freud called the unconscious, or a part of the mind that we are not aware of during waking life.

According to Freud, these repressed ideas reappear throughout in symbolic form through jokes, slip-ups while speaking, and dreams.

Jung’s Archetypes Theory

Jung incorporated some of Freud’s ideas into his own practices. However, Jung contributed his own dream interpretation theory centered on the concept of compensation.

He believed that dreams allow people to “compensate,” or explore complex symbols hidden in the unconscious called archetypes. The archetypes that appear in dreams indicate parts of an individual’s personality that are out of balance or underdeveloped.

The Possible Meanings Behind Common Dreams

Some researchers believe that dreams include imagery from the individual’s waking thoughts, fears, and memories but do not contain symbols that convey a deeper, hidden meaning.

There is no strong evidence to indicate that dreams contain more symbolism than other types of thought. Despite this, some mental health practitioners use dream analysis to learn more about their clients. This is because dreams may highlight memories and issues that are important to a person.

If you are interested in interpreting your dreams, it may help to focus on your own personal feelings toward the subjects and images you perceive while dreaming. Your associations with people, places, and things are uniquely yours. For this reason, broad dream interpretations may not resonate or feel accurate to you.

However, some themes do seem to appear repeatedly in many people’s dreams, and there is no shortage of ideas about what those common themes may signify.

Your Teeth Are Falling Out

Dreams about losing teeth are so common that some researchers believe they are almost universal. From Ancient Greece to the Talmud and Freud’s writings in the 20th century, people have tried interpreting dreams about losing their teeth.

Experts remain mystified about why so many people dream about their teeth rotting or falling out. A leading theory about dreaming is that they reflect events in our waking lives. However, this doesn’t widely apply to dreams about losing teeth because most individuals do not experience tooth loss on a regular basis.

Some claim that dreams about losing teeth are related to stress and emotional upset. Others suggest that these dreams may be related to dental pain or mouth irritation instead of psychological distress.

Flying or Falling

Studies indicate that more than half of people dream about flying or falling.

Flying can be a pleasant dream experience and is one sought by many lucid dreamers . A lucid dream involves being aware you are dreaming and, in some cases, attempting to control the dream narrative.

Dreams of falling frequently occur before experiencing a hypnic jerk. Hypnic jerks are sharp, sudden flinches of the body that occur as a person falls asleep. Hypnic jerks are normal and are not a cause for concern. They are more likely to happen when you are sleep deprived, or if you have recently used stimulants like caffeine.

Insects or Spiders

Dreams about insects have been interpreted very differently among cultures and time periods. An ancient Greek dream interpretation manual from the 2nd century A.D. states that insects symbolize worries. Some modern psychotherapists suggest that children dreaming about bugs represents a feeling of being small and powerless.

People with sleep disorders like sleepwalking or night terrors sometimes have vivid dreams that involve insects or spiders. They may see or feel insects crawling on them or in their surroundings.

Being Chased

Nightmares , including dreams about being chased, are common. People may be more likely to dream about being chased or other frightening scenarios during periods of stress, after traumatic events, or due to anxiety .

Some mental health conditions and medications can also cause nightmares. If you are concerned that your medication may be contributing to dreams about being chased or other frightening scenarios, talk with your doctor before making any adjustments to your treatment plan.

Having An Affair

Aspects of your romantic life may affect the subjects of your dreams. Some studies have shown that dreams about infidelity are linked to having been cheated on in a relationship. Dreaming that you are having an affair might be associated with jealousy or low intimacy in your current relationship.

Seeing a Deceased Friend or Relative

Researchers believe that dreaming of deceased individuals may help loved ones cope with grief and adjust to their loss. These dreams allow people to maintain a sort of bond with the individual who has died as they process emotions related to their loss.

How to Analyze and Interpret Dreams

Evidence suggests that dream imagery is related to each individual’s personal experiences, and there is no scientific guide that can tell you how to interpret dreams. However, there are some steps you can take to understand your own dreams—and possibly yourself—a bit better.

• Focus on your own feelings: Instead of searching for a broad explanation, consider your own associations with the content and themes that appear in your dreams. A dream about snakes might be frightening to some people, for example, while others may find it fascinating.
• Write it down: It is easy to forget the details of a dream within minutes of waking up. Keep a notebook next to your bed so you can write down your dreams as soon as possible, or try using a smartphone app to take notes.
• Talk to a professional: Contact a doctor if you are having nightmares so frequently that they impact your sleep habits or daytime mood. A professional can also help you work through issues such as trauma or grief that may affect your dreams. Finally, let your doctor know if you believe a medication or medication withdrawal is giving you nightmares.
• https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/patient-caregiver-education/brain-basics-understanding-sleep
• https://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/features/tps-0000018.pdf
• https://dreams.ucsc.edu/Library/domhoff_2017.html
• https://dreams.ucsc.edu/Library/purpose.html
• https://dreams.ucsc.edu/Library/lecture_notes_freud.html
• https://dreams.ucsc.edu/Library/lecture_notes_jung.html
• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25379263/
• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30319507/
• https://www.uptodate.com/contents/approach-to-abnormal-movements-and-behaviors-during-sleep
• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26467945/
• https://www.uptodate.com/contents/nightmares-and-nightmare-disorder-in-adults
• https://journals.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/index.php/IJoDR/article/view/472
• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32036745/
• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15612605/
• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24934010/
• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34027504/

About The Author

Clinical Psychologist, Sleep Medicine Expert

Michael Breus, Ph.D is a Diplomate of the American Board of Sleep Medicine and a Fellow of The American Academy of Sleep Medicine and one of only 168 psychologists to pass the Sleep Medical Specialty Board without going to medical school. He holds a BA in Psychology from Skidmore College, and PhD in Clinical Psychology from The University of Georgia. Dr. Breus has been in private practice as a sleep doctor for nearly 25 years. Dr. Breus is a sought after lecturer and his knowledge is shared daily in major national media worldwide including Today, Dr. Oz, Oprah, and for fourteen years as the sleep expert on WebMD. Dr. Breus is also the bestselling author of The Power of When, The Sleep Doctor’s Diet Plan, Good Night!, and Energize!

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The Author’s Purpose for students and teachers

What Is The Author’s Purpose?

When discussing the author’s purpose, we refer to the ‘why’ behind their writing. What motivated the author to produce their work? What is their intent, and what do they hope to achieve?

The author’s purpose is the reason they decided to write about something in the first place.

There are many reasons a writer puts pen to paper, and students must possess the necessary tools to identify these reasons and intents to react and respond appropriately.

Understanding why authors write is essential for students to navigate the complex landscape of texts effectively. The concept of author’s purpose encompasses the motivations behind a writer’s choice of words, style, and structure. By teaching students to discern these purposes, educators empower them to engage critically with various forms of literature and non-fiction.

Author’s Purpose Definition

The author’s purpose is his or her motivation for writing a text and their intent to Persuade, Inform, Entertain, Explain or Describe something to an audience.

Author’s Purpose Examples and Types

It is universally accepted there are three base categories of the Author’s Purpose: To Persuade, To Inform , and To Entertain . These can easily be remembered with the PIE acronym and should be the starting point on this topic. However, you may also encounter other subcategories depending on who you ask.

This table provides many author’s purpose examples, and we will cover the first five in detail in this article.

Author’s Purpose Teaching Unit

Teach your students ALL ASPECTS of the Author’s Purpose with this fully EDITABLE 63-page Teaching Unit.

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Author’s Purpose 1: To Persuade

Definition: This is a prevalent purpose of writing, particularly in nonfiction. When a text is written to persuade, it aims to convince the reader of the merits of a particular point of view . In this type of writing, the author attempts to persuade the reader to agree with this point of view and/or subsequently take a particular course of action. 

Examples: This purpose can be found in all kinds of writing. It can even be in fiction writing when the author has an agenda, consciously or unconsciously. However, it is most commonly the motivation behind essays, advertisements, and political writing, such as speech and propaganda.

Persuasion is commonly also found in…

• A political speech urges voters to support a particular candidate by presenting arguments for their suitability for the position, policies, and record of achievements.
• An advertisement for a new product that emphasizes its unique features and benefits over competing products, attempting to convince consumers to choose it over alternatives.
• A letter to the editor of a newspaper expressing a strong opinion on a controversial issue and attempting to persuade others to adopt a similar position by presenting compelling evidence and arguments.

How to Identify: To identify when the author’s purpose is to persuade, students should ask themselves if they feel the writer is trying to get them to believe something or take a specific action. They should learn to identify the various tactics and strategies used in persuasive writing, such as repetition, multiple types of supporting evidence, hyperbole, attacking opposing viewpoints, forceful phrases, emotive imagery, and photographs.

We have a complete persuasive writing guide if you want to learn more.

Strategies for being a more PERSUASIVE writer

To become a persuasive writer, students can employ several strategies to convey their arguments and influence their readers effectively. Here are five strategies for persuasive writing:

• Understand Your Audience: Know your target audience and tailor your persuasive arguments to appeal to their interests, values, and beliefs. Consider their potential objections and address them in your writing. Understanding your audience helps you create a more compelling and persuasive piece.
• Use Strong Evidence and Examples: Support your claims with credible evidence, statistics, and real-life examples. Persuasive writing relies on logic and facts to support your arguments. Conduct research to find reliable sources that strengthen your case and make your writing more convincing.
• Craft a Persuasive Structure: Organize your writing clearly and persuasively. Start with a compelling introduction that grabs the reader’s attention and states your main argument. Use body paragraphs to present evidence and supporting points logically. Finish with a strong conclusion that reinforces your main message and calls the reader to take action or adopt your viewpoint.
• Appeal to Emotions: Persuasive writing is not just about logic; emotions are crucial in influencing readers. Use emotional appeals to connect with your audience and evoke empathy, sympathy, or excitement. Be careful not to manipulate emotions but use them to reinforce your argument authentically.
• Anticipate Counterarguments: Acknowledge and address potential counterarguments to show that you have considered different perspectives. By addressing opposing viewpoints, you demonstrate that you have thoroughly thought about the issue and strengthen your credibility as a persuasive writer.

Bonus Tip: Use Persuasive Language: Pay attention to your choice of words and language. Use compelling language that evokes a sense of urgency or importance. Employ rhetorical devices, such as repetition, analogy, and rhetorical questions, to make your writing more persuasive and memorable.

Please encourage students to practice these strategies in their writing in formal essays and everyday persuasive situations. By mastering persuasive writing techniques, students can effectively advocate for their ideas, inspire change, and have a greater impact with their words.

Author’s Purpose 2: To Inform

Definition: When an author aims to inform, they usually wish to enlighten their readership about a real-world topic. Often, they will do this by providing lots of facts. Informational texts impart information to the reader to educate them on a given topic. 

Examples: Many types of school books are written with the express purpose of informing the reader, such as encyclopedias, recipe books, newspapers and informative texts…

• A news article reporting on a recent event or development provides factual details about what happened, who was involved, and where and when it occurred.
• A scientific journal article describes a research study’s findings, explaining the methodology, results, and implications for further analysis or practical application.
• A travel guidebook that provides detailed information about a particular destination, including its history, culture, attractions, accommodation options, and practical advice for visitors.

How to Identify: In the process of informing the reader, the author will use facts, which is one surefire way to spot the intent to inform.

However, when the author’s purpose is persuasion, they will also likely provide the reader with some facts to convince them of the merits of their particular case. The main difference between the two ways facts are employed is that when the intention is to inform, facts are presented only to teach the reader. When the author aims to persuade, they commonly mask their opinions amid the facts.

Students must become adept at recognizing ‘hidden’ opinions through practice. Teach your students to beware of persuasion masquerading as information!

Please read our complete guide to learn more about writing an information report.

Strategies for being a more INFORMATIVE writer

To become an informative writer, students can employ several strategies to effectively convey information and knowledge clearly and engagingly. Here are five strategies for informative writing:

• Conduct Thorough Research: Before writing, gather information from credible sources such as books, academic journals, reputable websites, and expert interviews. Use reliable data and evidence to support your points. Ensuring the accuracy and reliability of your information is essential in informative writing.
• Organize Information Logically: Structure your writing clearly and logically. Use headings, subheadings, and bullet points to organize information into easily digestible chunks. A well-structured piece helps readers understand complex topics more quickly.
• Use Clear and Concise Language: Aim for clarity and avoid unnecessary jargon or complex language that might confuse your readers. Use simple and concise sentences to deliver information effectively. Make sure to define any technical terms or concepts unfamiliar to your audience.
• Provide Real-Life Examples: Illustrate your points with real-life examples, case studies, or anecdotes. Concrete examples make abstract concepts more understandable and relatable. They also help to keep the reader engaged throughout the piece.
• Incorporate Visual Aids: Whenever possible, use visual aids such as charts, graphs, diagrams, and images to complement your text. Visual elements enhance understanding and retention of information. Be sure to explain the significance of each visual aid in your writing.

Bonus Tip: Practice Summarization: After completing informative writing, practice summarizing the main points. Being able to summarize your work concisely reinforces your understanding of the topic and helps you identify any gaps in your information.

Encourage students to practice these strategies in various writing tasks, such as research papers, reports, and explanatory essays. By mastering informative writing techniques, students can effectively educate their readers, share knowledge, and contribute meaningfully to their academic and professional pursuits.

Author’s Purpose 3: To Entertain

Definition: When an author’s chief purpose is to entertain the reader, they will endeavour to keep things as interesting as possible. Things happen in books written to entertain, whether in an action-packed plot , inventive characterizations, or sharp dialogue.

Examples: Not surprisingly, much fiction is written to entertain, especially genre fiction. For example, we find entertaining examples in science fiction, romance, and fantasy.

Here are some more entertaining texts to consider.

• A novel that tells a compelling story engages the reader’s emotions and imagination through vivid characters, evocative settings, and unexpected twists and turns.
• A comedy television script that uses humour and wit to amuse the audience, often by poking fun at everyday situations or societal norms.
• A stand-up comedy routine that relies on the comedian’s storytelling ability and comedic timing to entertain the audience, often by commenting on current events or personal experiences.

How to Identify: When writers attempt to entertain or amuse the reader, they use various techniques to engage their attention. They may employ cliffhangers at the end of a chapter, for example. They may weave humour into their story or even have characters tell jokes. In the case of a thriller, an action-packed scene may follow an action-packed scene as the drama builds to a crescendo. Think of the melodrama of a soap opera here rather than the subtle touch of an arthouse masterpiece.

Strategies for being a more ENTERTAINING writer

To become an entertaining writer, students can use several strategies to captivate their readers and keep them engaged. Here are five effective techniques:

• Use Humor: Inject humour to tickle the reader’s funny bone. Incorporate witty remarks, funny anecdotes, or clever wordplay. Humour lightens the tone of your writing and makes it enjoyable to read. However, be mindful of your audience and ensure your humour is appropriate and relevant to the topic.
• Create Engaging Characters: Whether you’re writing a story, essay, or any other type of content, develop compelling and relatable characters. Readers love connecting with well-developed characters with distinct personalities, flaws, and strengths. Use descriptive language to bring them to life and make them memorable.
• Craft Intriguing Beginnings: Grab your reader’s attention from the very first sentence. Start with a compelling hook that sparks curiosity or creates intrigue. An exciting beginning sets the tone for the rest of the piece and encourages the reader to continue reading.
• Build Suspense and Surprise: Incorporate twists, turns, and surprises into your writing to keep readers on their toes. Building suspense creates anticipation and makes readers eager to discover what happens next. Surprise them with unexpected plot developments or revelations to keep them engaged throughout the piece.
• Use Imagery and Vivid Descriptions : Paint vivid pictures with your words to immerse readers in your writing. Use sensory language and descriptive imagery to transport them to different places, evoke emotions, and create a multisensory experience. Readers love to feel like they’re part of the story, and vivid descriptions help achieve that.

Bonus Tip: Read Widely and Analyze: To become an entertaining writer, read a variety of books, articles, and pieces from different genres and authors. Pay attention to the elements that make their writing engaging and entertaining. Analyze their use of humour, character development, suspense, and descriptions. Learning from the work of accomplished writers can inspire and improve your own writing.

By using these strategies and practising regularly, students can become more entertaining writers, captivating their audience and making their writing a joy to read. Remember, the key to entertaining writing is engaging your readers and leaving them with a positive and memorable experience.

Author’s Purpose 4: To Explain

Definition: When writers write to explain, they want to tell the reader how to do something or reveal how something works. This type of writing is about communicating a method or a process.

Examples: Writing to explain can be found in instructions, step-by-step guides, procedural outlines, and recipes such as these…

• A user manual explaining how to operate a piece of machinery or a technical device provides step-by-step instructions and diagrams to help users understand the process.
• A textbook chapter that explains a complex scientific or mathematical concept breaks it into simpler components and provides examples and illustrations to aid comprehension.
• A how-to guide that explains how to complete a specific task or achieve a particular outcome, such as cooking a recipe, gardening, or home repair. It provides a list of materials, step-by-step instructions, and tips to ensure success.

  How to Identify:   Often, this writing is organized into bulleted or numbered points. As it focuses on telling the reader how to do something, often lots of imperatives will be used within the writing. Diagrams and illustrations are often used to reinforce the text explanations too.

Read our complete guide to explanatory texts here.

Strategies for being a more EXPLANATORY WRITER

To become a more explanatory writer, students can employ several strategies to effectively clarify complex ideas and concepts for their readers. Here are five strategies for explanatory writing:

• Define Technical Terms: When writing about a specialized or technical topic, ensure that you define any relevant terms or jargon that might be unfamiliar to your readers. A clear and concise definition helps readers grasp the meaning of these terms and facilitates better understanding of the content.
• Use Analogies and Comparisons: Use analogies and comparisons to relate complex ideas to more familiar concepts. This technique makes abstract or difficult concepts more relatable and easier to understand. Analogies provide a frame of reference that helps readers connect new information to something they already know.
• Provide Step-by-Step Explanations: Break down complex processes or procedures into step-by-step explanations. This approach helps readers follow the sequence of events or actions and understand the logic behind each step. Use numbered lists or bullet points to make the process visually clear.
• Include Visuals and Diagrams: Supplement your explanatory writing with visual aids such as diagrams, flowcharts, or illustrations. Visuals can enhance understanding and retention of information by visually representing the concepts being discussed.
• Address “Why” and “How”: In explanatory writing, go beyond simply stating “what” happened or what a concept is. Focus on explaining “why” something occurs and “how” it works. Providing the underlying reasons and mechanisms helps readers better understand the subject matter.

Bonus Tip: Review and Revise: After completing your explanatory writing, review your work and assess whether the explanations are clear and comprehensive. Consider seeking feedback from peers or teachers to identify areas needing further clarification or expansion.

Please encourage students to practice these strategies in writing across different subjects and topics. By mastering explanatory writing techniques, students can effectively communicate complex ideas, promote better understanding, and excel academically and professionally.

Author’s Purpose 5: To Describe

Definition: Writers often use words to describe something in more detail than conveyed in a photograph alone. After all, they say a picture paints a thousand words, and text can help get us beyond the one-dimensional appearance of things.

Examples: We can find lots of descriptive writing in obvious places like short stories, novels and other forms of fiction where the writer wishes to paint a picture in the reader’s imagination. We can also find lots of writing with the purpose of description in nonfiction too – in product descriptions, descriptive essays or these text types…

• A travelogue that describes a particular place, highlighting its natural beauty, cultural attractions, and unique characteristics. The author uses sensory language to create a vivid mental picture in the reader’s mind.
• A painting analysis that describes the colors, shapes, textures, and overall impression of a particular artwork. The author uses descriptive language to evoke the emotions and ideas conveyed by the painting.
• A product review that describes the features, benefits, and drawbacks of a particular item. The author uses descriptive language to give the reader a clear sense of the product and whether it might suit their needs.

How to Identify: In the case of fiction writing which describes, the reader will notice the writer using lots of sensory details in the text. Our senses are how we perceive the world, and to describe their imaginary world, writers will draw heavily on language that appeals to these senses. In both fiction and nonfiction, readers will notice that the writer relies heavily on adjectives.

Strategies for being a more descriptive writer

Becoming a descriptive writer is a valuable skill that allows students to paint vivid pictures with words and immerse readers in their stories. Here are five strategies for students to enhance their descriptive writing:

• Sensory Language: Engage the reader’s senses by incorporating sensory language into your writing. Use descriptive adjectives, adverbs, and strong verbs to create a sensory experience for your audience. For example, instead of saying “the flower was pretty,” describe it as “the delicate, fragrant blossom with hues of vibrant pink and a velvety texture.”
• Show, Don’t Tell: Use the “show, don’t tell” technique to make your writing more descriptive and immersive. Rather than stating emotions or characteristics directly, use descriptive details and actions to show them. For instance, instead of saying “she was scared,” describe how “her heart raced, and her hands trembled as she peeked around the dark corner.”
• Use Metaphors and Similes: Integrate metaphors and similes to add depth and creativity to your descriptions. Compare two unrelated things to create a powerful visual image. For example, “the sun dipped below the horizon like a golden coin slipping into a piggy bank.”
• Focus on Setting: Pay attention to the setting of your story or narrative. Describe the environment, atmosphere, and surroundings in detail. Take the reader on a journey by clearly depicting the location. Let your words bring the setting to life, whether it’s a lush forest, a bustling city street, or a mystical castle.
• Practice Observation: Practice keen observation skills in your daily life. Take note of the world around you—the sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and textures. Observe people, places, and objects with a writer’s eye. By developing a habit of keen observation, you’ll have a rich bank of sensory details to draw from when you write.

Bonus Tip: Revise and Edit: Good descriptive writing often comes through revision and editing. After writing a draft, go back and read your work critically. Look for opportunities to add more descriptive elements, eliminate unnecessary adjectives or cliches, and refine your language to make it more engaging.

By applying these strategies and continually honing your descriptive writing skills, you’ll be able to transport readers to new worlds, evoke emotions, and make your writing more captivating and memorable.

Free Author’s Purpose Anchor Charts & Posters

Author’s Purpose Teaching Activities

The Author’s Purpose Task 1. The Author’s Purpose Anchor Chart

Whether introducing the general idea of the author’s purpose or working on identifying the specifics of a single purpose, a pie author’s purpose anchor chart can be an excellent resource for students when working independently. Compiling the anchor chart collaboratively with the students can be an effective way for them to reconstruct and reinforce their learning.

The Author’s Purpose Task 2. Gather Real-Life Examples

Challenging students to identify and collect real-life examples of the various types of writing as homework can be a great way to get some hands-on practice. Encourage your students to gather various forms of text together indiscriminately. They then sift through them to categorize them appropriately according to their purpose. The students will soon begin to see that all writing has a purpose. You may also like to make a classroom display of the gathered texts to serve as examples.

The Author’s Purpose Task 3. DIY

One of the most effective ways for students to recognize the authorial intent behind a piece of writing is to gain experience producing writing for various purposes. Design writing tasks with this in mind. For example, if you are focused on writing to persuade, you could challenge the students to produce a script for a radio advertisement. If the focus is entertaining, you could ask the students to write a funny story.

The Author’s Purpose Task 4. Classroom Discussion

When teaching author’s purpose, organize the students into small discussion groups of, say, 4 to 5. Provide each group with copies of sample texts written for various purposes. Students should have some time to read through the texts by themselves. They then work to identify the author’s purpose, making notes as they go. Students can discuss their findings as a group.

Remember: the various purposes are not mutually exclusive; sometimes, a text has more than one purpose. It is possible to be both entertaining and informative, for example. It is essential students recognize this fact. A careful selection of texts can ensure the students can discover this for themselves.

 Students need to understand that regardless of the text they are engaged with, every piece of writing has some purpose behind it. It’s important that they work towards recognizing the various features of different types of writing that reveal to the reader just what that purpose is.

Initially, the process of learning to identify the different types of writing and their purposes will require conscious focus on the part of the student. Plenty of opportunities should be created to allow this necessary classroom practice.

However, this practice doesn’t have to be exclusively in the form of discrete lessons on the author’s purpose. Simply asking students what they think the author’s purpose is when reading any text in any context can be a great way to get the ‘reps’ in quickly and frequently.

Eventually, students will begin to recognize the author’s purpose quickly and unconsciously in the writing of others.

Ultimately, this improved comprehension of writing, in general, will benefit students in their own independent writing.

This video is an excellent introductory guide for students looking for a simple visual breakdown of the author’s purpose and how it can impact their approach to writing and assessment.

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