I'm just going to come right out and say it: we don't definitively know why we dream. There are tons of theories about it, though, as that question has been explored for thousands of years by scientists, psychiatrists, film and video, psychics and more. The most respected theories, though, are those supported by scientific research and are applicable among various cultures. The 7 most common theories here are listed from least evidence and support to most. 

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We dream to fulfill our wishes:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

the dreams we remember are the important things, urging the dreamer to address suppressed issues and pursue dreams and desires. Basically, dreams are little messages from the unconscious part of the brain to the conscious part. Sounds pretty... whimsical, right?

 

The idea that a brain function as universal as dreaming would simply be to show us how to be happy has puzzled a lot of scientists. I mean, scientifically speaking, almost all processes that occur within our bodies have the same goal: keep you healthy and alive. Whether that means producing water to cool down or decreasing blood flow to parts of your body, bodily processes have a greater function. One could argue though, as Freudian supporters have, that these unconscious messages are a significant contributor to our mental health, unlocking deep wishes and allowing us to deal with problems.

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We dream to rehearse:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

significant to its purpose; when the boogeyman is chasing you, your mind is actually trying to find a way to outrun him. The idea is that your unconscious mind is a perfect medium to practice your sword fighting technique and karate form!  

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While it may seem silly to dream about scary situations just to see what you would do in them, this function is rooted in the more primitive, instinctual part of our brains. The part that controls our fight or flight instinct and causes you to get goosebumps when you sense something dangerous nearby. This is backed by evidence that dangerous and threatening dreams are quite common and tend to be the ones that people remember most often. 

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We dream to remember:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and dreams are simply a signal that these processes are occurring. In plain terms, we don't know which remembering processes occur, so while we sleep, our brains could be committing certain information to memory. Thanks brain!

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We dream to forget:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

brain. This could be learning about a particular concept in class, your friend's favorite color, or how to get to that new restaurant. Some of these are more useful than others, so during REM sleep, our brains get rid of the unnecessary connections, resulting in dreams!

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The theory of dreams functioning as a garbage disposal is based in the concept of reverse unlearning: at night, neural context reviews all connections made throughout the day and tosses out the ones that aren't worth saving. This is so that your brain is not overwhelmed by all of the useless information you are exposed to all day, like the color of the car driving down the street or what that guy on the bus had for lunch. 

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We dream to solve problems and understand the world around us:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

seem radical, research has demonstrated the effectiveness of dreaming on problem solving. No wonder they tell you to "sleep on it" when you have a difficult decision to make or problem to solve!

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Basically, dreamland is a great place to find some answers because of its nature; in dreams, there is no reality or boundaries. You can be flying one minute and then at your childhood home talking to Lady Gaga about dogs the next! And yes, that is one of my recent dreams, no judging! But anyways, in your dreams, you can think about problems differently and formulate solutions that you might not even consider when awake. Your mind is an incredible creative tool, you just need to unlock it!

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We dream to heal:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

active, so it's a bit easier to experience stressful situations. This enables an avenue for psychological healing, as it grants a clearer perspective and an enhanced ability to process the dream, opposed to obsessing over it during the day. In fact, there is evidence that a lack of sleep (and in turn, a lack of dreaming) is a contributor to mood disorders and PTSD. Whether this is caused by lack of dreams or lack of general sleep is still unclear, though. 

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We dream to improve brain function and continue brain activity: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

just a long winded way of saying that your dreams act as a screensaver so your brain doesn't shut down!

 

Basically, our brains continue to function when we sleep, but input level is limited to internal sources only, like keeping your heart pumping and lungs working. This lack of external stimuli that you experience when you're awake (i.e. sounds, sights, smells) forces the brain to compensate by using its stored data. This results in the plot-less adventures that are culminations of your past thoughts and experiences appearing as actions and feelings.