An Evolutionary Psychology of Sleep and Dreams

Subjects:

• Psychology » Psychology (General)
• Psychology » Cognitive Psychology

Awards:

• CHOICE Outstanding Academic Titles, 2005

Reviews:

• McNamara makes a seminal contribution to both evolutionary psychology and the neuropsychology of sleep and dreams. Drawing upon animal studies, cognitive neuroscience, attachment theory, sleep disorders, content analysis, developmental psychology, memory, emotion, play, narrative, imagery, and metaphor, McNamara portrays dreams as the creative product of an adaptive process that is crucial to the development of both authentic human communication and "hard-to-fake" emotions, as well as (in all likelihood) human culture in general. During this process REM (rapid eye movement) and non-REM sleep are often antagonistic, yet dreaming can occur in either. McNamara deconstructs many orthodox perspectives, most notably the notion that dream content is a meaningless chance occurrence, while salvaging what is consistent with current data. Destined to become an instant classic, this book reads like a detective story as McNamara explores such puzzles as why unpleasant dreams outnumber pleasant ones. McNamara's own "costly signal" theory regarding the function of REM sleep (which he saves for the final chapter) is original and articulate; many readers will find it convincing. Highly recommended. Upper-level undergraduates and above.
  —Choice September 2005
• [I]ntended to explore new approaches to potential functions of REM and REM-related dreaming.
  —SciTech Book News June 2005

• Endorsement From G. William Domhoff
  Research Professor
  University of California, Santa Cruz: McNamara comes to the difficult issues of dream research with a fresh eye that allows him to take into account all the relevant new findings in both neuropsychology and content analysis, and the result is an original and highly creative synthesis that transcends the tired orthodoxies of the past. Even if his provocative theory does not prove to be the whole answer, his book is a major contribution because it will stimulate new research directions and force everyone to rethink their current assumptions.
• Endorsement From G. William Domhoff
  Research Professor
  University of California, Santa Cruz: McNamara comes to the difficult issues of dream research with a fresh eye that allows him to take into account all the relevant new findings in both neuropsychology and content analysis, and the result is an original and highly creative synthesis that transcends the tired orthodoxies of the past.

Table of Contents:

• List of Tables and Figures
• Preface
• REM Biology and Evolutionary Theory
• Patterns of REM Expression Across the Lifespan
• Phylogeny of Sleep
• REM-NREM Signaling in Interactions
• REM Sleep and Genetic Conflict
• Theories of REM
• Phenomenology of REM Dreams
• Content of REM Dreams
• Theories of REM Dreams
• Understanding REM