Question.2315 - Assignment 2 (up to 10 points) Dream Journal and Theoretical Review For this assignment you are to keep a sleep and dream journal. To receive the full 10 points you must have an entry for five nights. If you do not recall a vivid dream from the night in question, you should record how you felt emotionally. Do not make up dreams...it’s OK if you don’t remember all the details of a dream. Everyone dreams...however, not everyone can recall his or her dreams. To help with recall you might consider doing the following: 1. Keep the notebook right on your nightstand. 2. Before you fall asleep, tell yourself that you want to and will remember the dreams the next morning (will power). 3. As SOON as you get up in the morning, jot down your dream or at least several keywords that you can use later to jog your memory. 4. You might also consider setting the alarm about 30 minutes earlier than normal to awaken yourself during a REM period. As you review your sleep & dream log, think about how they may relate to the events and people in your life right now. Is there a relationship between the dream and the previous day’s events? What are your sleep habits? How do you typically wake up in the morning? What are your sleep patterns (time/length of sleep, naps)? Are you consistent with these patterns? Do you think your caffeine intake affects your sleep? How do these factors affect the quantity and quality of your sleep? Is there a correlation between the amount of sleep you get and your daily energy level? What about your mood? Ability to concentrate or focus? Ability to think quickly? How does sleep affect your memory? Afterwards, you will need to write a brief paper (3 pages) discussing your sleep pattern and whether or not the various theories of dreams discussed in class apply to what you have experienced. Discuss each theory and incorporate it into your dreams. The paper should include: Introduction: Provide an overall description of your sleep and dreaming patterns. 29/07/2023, 10:15 Application Assignment #2 https://worldclassroom.webster.edu/courses/1440863/assignments/6861880 2/2 Analysis: How did your life impact your sleep schedule? Discuss caffeine consumption, situations, etc. Are you getting enough sleep? What are the consequences? Briefly describe each particular theory of dreaming. See your text for a summary of each theory. Which theory or theories do you feel make the most sense given your experiences. Provide examples from your dreams of this week or in the past. Make sure to properly reference this material in APA style. Appendix: Complete the sleep and dreaming log. You can find a word version of this file at: http://faculty.webster.edu/hulsizer/onlineclass/sleepdreamlog.doc (http://faculty.webster.edu/hulsizer/onlineclass/sleepdreamlog.doc) If the link above does not work, try this: sleepdreamlog.doc (https://worldclassroom.webster.edu/courses/1440863/files/70893426?wrap=1) Reference Page: Make sure your references are in APA style. Look at the back of your textbook. Does your reference page look similar? Papers should be typed with 1-inch margins, double-spacing, and normal-sized font (such as you see here – 12pt). The paper should be approximately 3 pages in length plus your title page,the sleep/dream log, and the reference page. So, it should be longer than 5 pages. You can upload two files
Answer Below:
Analysis of Sleep Patterns Based on the sleep and dream log I just shared, my overall sleep and dreaming patterns show some interesting trends and variations over the course of five days. In terms of sleep duration, my bedtime and waking time seem to fluctuate slightly, with an average of about 7 to 8.5 hours of sleep per night. On the first night (Mon, 7/24), I managed to get a refreshing 8 hours of sleep, which left me feeling energized and positive upon awakening. However, on the third night (Wed, 7/26), I slept for around 7.75 hours, and although I woke up excited due to a vivid dream, I might have benefited from a bit more sleep. My dreaming experiences also vary throughout the five days. On the first night, I had a dream about flying like a bird, which was likely influenced by a sense of freedom and adventure. On the second night (Tue, 7/25), I didn't recall any dreams, possibly indicating a deeper or dreamless sleep. Emotions and feelings upon awakening are notable aspects of my sleep patterns. On the second and fourth nights (Tue, 7/25, and Thu, 7/27), I woke up feeling tired and slightly anxious. These feelings might be related to the length and quality of sleep, as well as the content of the dreams. On the other hand, the first and fifth nights (Mon, 7/24, and Fri, 7/28) had positive emotions upon awakening, which could be attributed to better rest and more enjoyable dreams. Napping appears to be occasional, with only two out of the five days having recorded naps. On the second day (Tue, 7/25), I took a 1-hour nap in the afternoon, which might have been an attempt to compensate for insufficient sleep during the night. On the fourth day (Thu, 7/27), I took a longer nap of 1.5 hours, possibly due to feeling fatigued and stressed. Caffeine intake seems to influence my sleep and energy levels. On the first and fifth days (Mon, 7/24, and Fri, 7/28), I consumed caffeine (1 cup of coffee) and felt more energetic and alert throughout the day. However, on the third day (Wed, 8/2), with no caffeine intake, I still APPLICATION ASSIGNMENT 3 experienced high energy and concentration levels, suggesting that factors other than caffeine play a role in influencing my daily energy levels. My mood throughout the day appears to be generally positive, with a few fluctuations in mood on the second and fourth days (Tue, 7/25, and Thu, 7/27) when I woke up feeling tired and anxious. However, on the whole, my mood seems to be mostly stable and positive, especially on days with adequate and restful sleep. Memory and cognitive ability throughout the day are variable. On the first day (Mon, 7/24), I experienced sharpness and good memory despite a bit of sluggishness. However, on the second day (Tue, 7/25), I felt slightly forgetful and made a few mistakes, which might be connected to insufficient sleep and a mid-day nap. On the whole, my sleep and dreaming patterns over the five days demonstrate a mix of positive and negative experiences. Adequate sleep duration, positive emotions upon awakening, and occasional naps seem to contribute to improved mood and cognitive functioning. However, fluctuations in sleep duration, dreams, and feelings upon waking, especially on days with increased anxiety and fatigue, suggest the importance of maintaining a consistent and balanced sleep routine for overall well-being and optimal cognitive performance. Sleep Quantity & Consequences Based on the sleep and dream log, it seems that my sleep duration varies from around 6.5 to 9.75 hours per night over the five-day period. While I managed to get sufficient sleep on most nights, there were instances where I may not have obtained the recommended 7 to 9 hours of sleep consistently. For example, on the third night (Wed, 7/26), I slept for approximately 7.75 hours, which might be slightly below the optimal range. Additionally, on the second night (Tue, 7/25), I woke up feeling tired despite getting 8.75 hours of sleep, possibly indicating that the quality of sleep may not have been optimal. These variations APPLICATION ASSIGNMENT 4 suggest that I need to pay closer attention to maintaining a more consistent sleep schedule to ensure I am getting enough restorative sleep. The consequences of not getting enough sleep can be significant. On days where my sleep duration was shorter or disrupted, such as the second night (Tue, 7/25) and the fourth night (Thu, 7/27), I woke up feeling tired and experienced fluctuations in my mood, including feelings of anxiety and stress. Furthermore, inadequate sleep can impact memory and cognitive abilities, as evidenced by feeling slightly forgetful and making mistakes on the second day (Tue, 7/25). Additionally, days with insufficient sleep might lead to an increase in daytime sleepiness, as indicated by the need for naps on the second and fourth days. While I managed to maintain relatively high energy and concentration levels on most days, fatigue and sluggishness were apparent on the fourth day (Thu, 8/3) when I consumed caffeine to compensate for the lack of restful sleep. To improve overall well-being and daily functioning, I recognize the importance of establishing a consistent sleep routine to ensure I consistently get enough restorative sleep and avoid the potential consequences of sleep deprivation. Dream Theories Myers and Dewall (2017) have discussed several theories of dreaming. Among these theories are the Freudian psychoanalytic theory, which suggests that dreams are a manifestation of unconscious desires and repressed emotions. According to this theory, dreams serve as a way for the unconscious mind to express these hidden thoughts and wishes in symbolic form. Another theory that may be covered is the activation-synthesis theory, proposing that dreams result from random brain activity during REM sleep, and the brain tries to make sense of these signals by creating narratives and stories. Personally, I find the activation-synthesis theory to be more compelling given my experiences with dreams. Many times, my dreams seem to be a mix of unrelated and APPLICATION ASSIGNMENT 5 sometimes bizarre elements, which aligns with the idea of random brain activation during REM sleep. For instance, in one dream this week, I recall being in a peculiar scenario where I was exploring an underwater city while simultaneously having a conversation with a fictional character from a favorite book. These seemingly unrelated elements in my dreams support the notion that they stem from spontaneous brain activity. While theories of dreaming offer different perspectives on the nature and purpose of dreams, the activation-synthesis theory resonates more with my personal experiences. Its explanation of dreams as a result of random brain activity aligns with the often fragmented and surreal nature of my dreams. However, it's essential to recognize that dreaming remains a complex and multifaceted phenomenon, and different theories may hold value in understanding various aspects of this intriguing aspect of human consciousness. Reference Myers, D. G. & Dewall, C. N. (2017). Psychology in Modules (12th ed.). New York: Worth.More Articles From Psychology
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