The dreams most people have when they were younger appear to be more vivid than what they are now. Upon reaching adulthood， people’s dreams started to wane① and at best they could not recall any dream upon waking up.
According to experts， in a typical lifespan， humans spend a total of six years dreaming. There is yet no consensus or established explanation why we dream. That is why； there are theories that try to explain this phenomenon② .
Following are some of these theories and came up with eight explanations why we dream：
1. Adler’s Theory. Dreams were a way of addressing our insecurities. In a dream we can safely face things that would otherwise scare us. We can try out strategies for overcoming our shortcomings③ or simply compensate for them via wish-fulfillment.
2. Freud’s Theory. Freud believes that we dream mainly because we want to fulfill our wishes. In other words， we dream mainly to fulfill our desires.
3. Jung’s Theory. He suggested that dreams may compensate④ for one-sided attitudes held in waking consciousness.
4. Hartmann’s Theory. Dreams， he said， function like psychotherapy. What someone cannot do during waking life， he tries to fulfill in his dreams.
5. Griffen’s Theory. Dreams provide a venue to satisfy an emotional expectation. This lowers stress on the dreamer.
6. Hobson and McCauley’s Theory. Dreams were simply the result of random electrical brain impulses⑤ that pulled imagery from traces of experience. Our brain tries to make sense of what these imageries mean and our mind creates stories out of it.
7. Hall’s Theory. He argued that a dream was simply a thought or sequence⑥ of thoughts. Dream images are the dreamer’s own personal construct.
8. Cayce’s Theory. More inclined on the spiritual explanations， he claimed that through dreaming， people are given access to their spirit. Well， these dream theories appear to point out that dreaming is a personal thing. Each one has a unique dream not dreamt by anybody else. The best explanation to our dreams should come from us.
Besides， we cannot dwell on our dreams. We have to face our everyday realities. If you dream well， enjoy it. If not， wake up！
① wanevi. 变暗淡；变小；减少；没落；消逝
② phenomenonn. 现象；稀有的事，奇迹
③ shortcomingn. 缺点，短处
④ compensatevi. 补偿，赔偿；抵消
⑤ impulsen. 【生理】神经冲动；【电】脉冲；推动力；刺激
⑥ sequencen. 连续；接连；一连串；次序；顺序
人为何会做梦
大部分人年轻时候做的梦会比现在做的梦记得清楚得多。成年以后，人们的梦开始减少了，而且醒来后记不起任何东西。
根据专家所言，典型的一个人的一生要花一共六年来做梦。关于为什么我们会做梦至今还没有达成共识或者既定的解释。这就是为什么，有如此多的理论试着来解释这一现象。
以下是这些理论中的一部分，列举了我们为什么做梦的八个解释：
1. 阿德勒的理论。梦是一种消除我们的不安全感的方式。在梦中我们能够安然地面对在现实生活中会令我们害怕的事情。我们能够通过如愿以偿的方式尝试种种策略来战胜我们的弱点或者只是简单地对它们进行补偿。
2. 弗洛伊德的理论。弗洛伊德认为我们做梦主要是因为我们想要实现我们的愿望。换句话说，我们做梦主要是为了满足自己的欲望。
3. 荣格的理论。他的观点是梦是对清醒意识的片面态度的一种补偿。
4. 哈特曼的理论。他说，梦的功能类似于心理疗法。在现实生活中不能做的事情，他会在梦境中试着实现。
5. 格里芬的理论。梦提供了一个满足情感期待的地方。这给做梦的人缓解了压力。
6. 霍布森和麦卡利的理论。梦仅仅是随机发放的大脑电信号把过往的经历变成意象。我们的大脑试着弄清楚这些意象的含义和我们创造的故事。
7. 霍尔的理论。他认为梦仅仅是一种想法或一系列的想法。梦的意象是做梦者自己的创造。
8. 凯西的理论。他认为更多的倾向于精神上的解释，他声称通过做梦，人们得到通向他们心灵的途径。这些梦的理论指出梦是一件个人的事。每个人都有其它人没有的自己独一无二的梦。我们的梦最好的解释来自我们自己。
此外，我们不能停留在我们的梦境中。我们不得不面对生活现实。如果你做了个美梦，好好享受，如果你做了个噩梦，那么赶紧醒来吧！
