Question 1

Women are more likely than men to report dreams involving physical aggression.

Accepted Answer

Research indicates that men are generally more likely than women to report dreams involving physical aggression.

Question 2

Approximately 5 to 10 percent of adults experience nightmares on a weekly basis.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. Studies suggest that 5 to 10 percent of adults experience nightmares on a weekly basis.

Question 3

Most dreams are in color rather than in black and white.

Accepted Answer

Studies have indicated that most people dream in color, with around 80% of dreams containing some color. However, some individuals do report dreaming only in black and white or with limited color.

Question 4

Apprehension or fear is the most frequently reported dream emotion for both sexes.

Accepted Answer

According to various studies and surveys, apprehension or fear is the most commonly reported dream emotion for both men and women.

Question 5

According to the information discussed in the In Focus box titled "What You Really Want to Know About Dreams," 10 percent of our dreams contain color.

Accepted Answer

The statement is incorrect; research indicates that most people dream in color, with only a small percentage of dreams being in black and white.

Question 6

Research does NOT support Sigmund Freud's belief that dream images are symbols that disguise a dream's true psychological meaning.

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that dreams are not necessarily symbolic representations of repressed desires, as Freud suggested, but can be influenced by various factors including daily experiences and emotions.

Question 7

Sigmund Freud (1911) believed that dream images of sticks, swords, and other elongated objects were phallic symbols, representing the penis. He also believed that dream images of cupboards, boxes, and ovens symbolized the vagina.

Accepted Answer

This statement accurately reflects Sigmund Freud's theory of dream symbols and their relationship to unconscious thoughts and desires.

Question 8

As a general rule, nightmares are indicative of a psychological or sleep disorder that may require medical treatment.

Accepted Answer

Nightmares are common and not always indicative of a disorder. They can occur due to stress, anxiety, or other factors and don't necessarily require medical treatment unless they are frequent and disruptive.

Question 9

According to the activation-synthesis model of dreaming, the activation of brainstem areas, which in turn trigger brain areas involved in sensation, emotions, and memory, causes dreaming.

Accepted Answer

The activation-synthesis model of dreaming proposes that random electrical activity in the brainstem triggers the brain areas involved in sensation, emotions, and memory, leading to the creation of dream experiences, which is considered to be a bottom-up process.

Question 10

In dreams, positive feelings and events are more common than negative ones.

Accepted Answer

Research indicates that negative emotions and events are more prevalent in dreams than positive ones, reflecting concerns and unresolved issues.

Question 11

According to Freud's theory of psychoanalysis, the disguised, symbolic meaning of dream images is called the manifest content.

Accepted Answer

Freud's theory of psychoanalysis refers to the disguised, symbolic meaning of dream images as the latent content, while the manifest content is the actual literal content of the dream.

Question 12

Compared to men, women of all ages report more frequent nightmares.

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that women of all ages report more frequent nightmares than men. This may be due to differences in brain connectivity and hormone levels between men and women.

Question 13

In general, instances of aggression are more common in people's dreams than are instances of friendliness.

Accepted Answer

Studies on dream content have consistently found that aggression is more frequent than friendliness in people's dreams. This may reflect the evolutionary function of dreaming as a way to rehearse and prepare for potential threats and challenges. However, it is important to note that not all dreams involve aggression and that dream content can vary widely depending on individual experiences, personalities, and cultural backgrounds.

Question 14

People who have been completely blind since birth have vivid dreams involving sounds and touch rather than visual images.

Accepted Answer

According to research, people who have been blind since birth predominantly dream in non-visual sensory experiences such as sounds, touch, and smell. This is because their brains do not have visual references to draw upon while dreaming.

Question 15

Sex and sexual behaviors are the most common themes in dreams.

Accepted Answer

While sex and sexual behaviors can appear in dreams, they are not the most common themes. Dreams often involve everyday activities, emotions, and concerns.

Question 16

Lucid dream means the same thing as a night terror.

Accepted Answer

A lucid dream is when you are aware that you are dreaming and may have some control over the dream. A night terror, on the other hand, is a type of sleep disorder where a person experiences extreme fear or panic during sleep, often accompanied by physical symptoms like sweating or racing heart rate. They are not the same thing.

Question 17

Although this effect is rare, sleep researchers have verified that if a person has a dream in which he or she falls off a cliff and the dreamer fails to awaken before hitting the bottom, the dreamer will experience a heart attack and physiological death will occur.

Accepted Answer

This statement is false. While it is possible to feel physical sensations in dreams, such as falling, it is extremely unlikely for someone to actually die from a dream. The body has natural reflexes that would cause a person to wake up before any harm is done.

Question 18

People who are born blind-or become totally blind before the age of two-do not dream.

Accepted Answer

People who are born blind or become blind before the age of two may not have visual dreams, but they can still have auditory, olfactory, and tactile dreams involving their other senses.

Question 19

Humans are the only animals to experience sleep cycles in which REM sleep alternates with slow-wave NREM sleep.

Accepted Answer

This statement is false. Many mammals, including cats, dogs, and monkeys, experience sleep cycles in which REM sleep alternates with slow-wave NREM sleep.

Question 20

Some people can consciously guide the course of their dreams, including backing the dream up and changing its direction.

Accepted Answer

This phenomenon is called lucid dreaming and some people are able to develop the skill of lucid dreaming, allowing them to have some control over their dreams.

Quiz 4: Consciousness and Its Variations