Costly Signaling Theory of REM Sleep and Dreams
Evolutionary Psychology January 1, 2007 Patrick Mcnamara, Reka Szent-Imrey 7 citations
Dreams, especially during REM sleep, may function as costly signals that shape waking behavior. Drawing on Costly Signaling Theory, the authors argue that dream content often portrays the dreamer as handicapped—lacking clothes, money, or under threat—and that the emotional residue of such dreams carries over into daytime life. This creates a mental set that leads the dreamer to subtly display a handicapped self through intense emotions or demeanor. Sharing dreams with others amplifies this effect, allowing the dreamer to adopt a self-handicapping strategy in social interactions, which serves a vital communicative goal.