the continuity hypothesis

The continuity hypothesis suggests that the mental processes involved in dreaming are closely linked to those used when awake. Essentially, it proposes that our dreams reflect our waking thoughts, concerns, and experiences, with similar themes and emotions. This means that the content of dreams isn’t random but connected to our daily lives, allowing us to process and integrate our waking experiences through dreams. The hypothesis helps explain why dreams often mirror our real-life thoughts, feelings, and activities, highlighting a continuity between our waking and sleeping mental life.