Final answer:
There are three main theories on why we dream: Activation-Synthesis theory, Collective Unconscious theory, and Life Events theory.
Step-by-step explanation:
There are several theories on why we dream:
- Activation-Synthesis Theory: Developed by Alan Hobson, this theory suggests that dreams are the brain's way of trying to make sense of random neural activity during REM sleep. Dreams are seen as the brain's attempt to synthesize this activity into a coherent narrative.
- Collective Unconscious Theory: Proposed by Carl Jung, this theory suggests that dreams allow us to tap into a shared repository of information known as the collective unconscious. Symbols in dreams reflect universal archetypes with similar meanings for all people.
- Life Events Theory: Rosalind Cartwright believes that dreams reflect important events in a dreamer's life. Empirical evidence supports this theory, showing that events that are on a person's mind during waking hours often appear as characters in their dreams.