New study suggests dreams function as a “multimotive simulation space”

A recent study published in the journal Dreaming suggests that our dreams function as a complex simulation space where we practice dealing with social challenges. These findings provide evidence that the deep-seated social drives that guide our waking lives, such as protecting our reputation or caring for family, also organize our nightly visions. The research indicates that dreams are not just random images but are instead structured around the same fundamental needs that have helped humans survive for generations.

Most previous research on sleep has focused on narrow functions. Some scientists suggested that dreams only help us practice for physical danger or help our brains process intense emotions. Other researchers looked at how dreams help us store memories from the day. This new study aimed to see if dreams reflect a broader range of human needs.

The scientists used a framework called fundamental social motives. This perspective suggests that human behavior revolves around specific challenges related to survival and reproduction. These challenges include things like finding a partner, keeping a job, or staying healthy. If dreams help us adapt to life, they should reflect these core social goals.

“I’ve always been fascinated by dreaming and what it might reveal about human behavior. The social motives framework offered a compelling lens because it provides strong explanatory power for understanding how fundamental human needs and goals may be reflected in dreams,” said study author Frederick Thomas, an assistant professor of psychology at Coker University.

The researchers collected 397 dream reports from a group of 315 people. These participants ranged in age from 18 to 64 years old. The group included college students as well as local community members. Most participants identified as European American, while others identified as African American, Latinx, or other backgrounds.

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The researchers asked people to describe their most recent dream. This is a common method in sleep science because it helps ensure the details are as fresh and accurate as possible. It also provides a realistic look at what people are actually dreaming about in their everyday lives.

To analyze these stories, the researchers used a specialized tool called the Dream Motives Rating Scale. This tool allowed them to look for seven specific social motives within the dream narratives. They looked for self-protection, which involves escaping danger or physical aggression. They also looked for status, which involves things like competition, success, or the fear of failing in front of others.

Affiliation was defined as the need for friendship and belonging. Kin care involved nurturing or protecting family members, especially children. They also looked for disease avoidance, which includes feelings of disgust or worries about germs and illness.

Finally, the researchers tracked two types of romantic motives. Mate acquisition involves looking for a new partner or experiencing attraction. Mate retention involves jealousy, betrayal, or trying to maintain a current relationship.

Two different experts read every dream report. They rated the strength of each motive on a scale from zero to three. A score of zero meant the motive was absent, while a score of three meant it was the central theme. If a motive was the most important part of the dream, it was labeled the primary motive.

When the two experts disagreed on a rating, a third expert helped make the final decision. This process helped ensure the ratings were consistent across all 397 narratives. The researchers also used statistical tests to see how often these themes appeared.

The study found that dreams often involve more than one motive at a time. Self-protection and status appeared most frequently in the reports. These two themes often served as the main focus of the dream narratives.

Status motives showed up in dreams about being judged by a coach or failing a test. Self-protection motives were common in dreams about being chased or facing a threat from an ex-partner. These findings suggest that our brains prioritize survival and social standing even while we sleep.

Kin care and affiliation appeared at moderate rates in the study. The data showed that motives related to keeping a current partner were more common than motives related to finding a new one. This aligns with the idea that maintaining existing bonds is a constant concern for most adults.

Disease avoidance was the least common theme but was still present in many dreams. These stories usually involved feelings of contamination or worries about getting sick. These dreams often appeared alongside concerns about protecting family members.

The scientists compared the dreams of men and women to see if their concerns differed. They found that the motivational patterns were very similar across both groups. Men and women both dreamed about status and self-protection more than any other category.

This similarity suggests that these social concerns are a universal part of the human experience. These motives likely shape how everyone thinks, regardless of their gender. The researchers believe this points toward a shared evolutionary history.

The researchers also looked at how different motives appeared together. “We were surprised to find that dreams do not focus on just one type of motive, such as fear or stress. Instead, different motives tend to cluster together. For example, survival and caregiving themes often appeared together, while social and relationship-focused motives formed a separate grouping. This suggests that dreams may organize different kinds of social challenges in meaningful ways.”

This study helps move dream science toward a more complete model of how the mind works. By looking at dreams through the lens of social motives, scientists can see which life problems the brain finds most important. Dreams appear to be a way for us to rehearse challenges involving survival, reputation, and bonding.

The researchers suggest that dreams are a “multimotive simulation space.” This means the brain uses sleep to practice many different social roles at once. By doing this, we might be better prepared to handle complex social interactions when we are awake.

“Dreams are not just strange or random experiences—they may serve an important function,” Thomas told PsyPost. “Our findings suggest that dreams connect our underlying desires and motivations to how we navigate the social world. I hope readers begin to see that dreams may be doing more than we typically assume.”

There are some limitations to this research that should be considered. The study relied on people’s ability to remember and describe their dreams, which can be difficult for some. Participants might forget certain details or change their stories when writing them down.

The experts also had to use their own judgment when coding the dreams. While they tried to be objective, human interpretation can sometimes vary. This is why the researchers used multiple coders and a third person to settle disagreements.

“While motives were coded systematically, interpreting dream narratives inevitably involves some degree of subjectivity,” Thomas noted. “Additionally, we did not assess life-history variables such as age, relationship status, or parenthood, which may influence certain motives like mate seeking, mate retention, or kin care.”

“Moving forward, we aim to incorporate more detailed life-history measures and use longitudinal designs to better understand how motivational priorities shift over time and across different social contexts.”

“Applying a well-established social motives framework to the study of dreaming is relatively rare,” Thomas added. “This approach allows us to move beyond narrow explanations and better understand how dreams may connect to real-world social behavior.”

The study, “Dreams and Fundamental Social Motives: Evidence From 397 Narratives,” was authored by Frederick Thomas, Katelynn Andrews, and Christien Leavitt.