Testing Revonsuo's Threat simulation theory of dreaming

Abstract

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 74-82).Revonsuo's Threat Simulation Theory of dreaming asserts that dreaming was selected during human evolution because it has the adaptive function of providing a threat-free context in which threat perception and avoidance can be rehearsed. This study aimed to test the prediction that the threat simulation mechanism will activate differently depending on waking exposure to ecologically valid threat cues. It also compared the impact of waking threat events on dream content with that of waking positive events, as TST asserts that only threat impacts on dream content. Data was collected from three contexts: a high threat context (the Western Cape in South Africa; n=208); a medium threat context (a black southern university in the US; n=34); and a low threat context (North Wales; n=116). Questionnaires included a Most Recent Dream report, details of exposure to walking threatening and positive events, and dreams of such events