Can Dream Science Be Used To Elicit Healthy Behaviors?

Dreaming, long studied as oneirology, may promote healthy behaviors when the psyche's structure is consciously understood. This narrative review examines relationships between dreaming and health promotion through the lens of Freudian dream theory. It classifies current evidence according to psychoanalytic fundamentals and suggests new approaches, including a possible explanation for the REM sleep paradox and proposed terms pre-REM and post-REM to replace NREM sleep. Parallels between selected studies and health promotion benefits are drawn, proposing lines of research to improve physical and mental health. Further dream science could open unexplored areas in public health, neuropsychoanalysis, and integrative health promotion.

Study at a glance

Abstract

The science of dreams and their interpretation may seem like a recent trend, justifying current research interests. Yet, for centuries, dream science, once called oneirology, has captivated dreamers in quest of meanings and motivated scientists in search of explanations. Due to the recent expansion of dream research this narrative review discusses and explores relationships between dreaming and health promoting behaviors. Perspectives from current evidence are classified according to the fundamentals of the Freudian dream theory. Selected investigations are reviewed according to specific elements of the psychoanalytic theory, suggesting new approaches including a possible explanation of the paradox of the rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and new terms proposed, pre-REM and post-REM, to replace non-REM (NREM) sleep. This review draws parallels between selected studies and the possible health promotion benefits within a psychoanalytic perspective, proposing possible lines of research to improve physical and mental health and wellbeing within the context of dreaming. The potential of dreaming to elicit healthy behaviors may be possible if the dynamics of the psyche's structure are consciously understood. Further examinations of dream science could lead to unexplored areas of public health, neuropsychoanalysis, and health promotion with an integrative and cross-disciplinary approach.