Sleep & Dreaming is a core part of GCSE Psychology. Revise the key concepts and common mistakes below, then lock them in with the free games.
Key concepts
REM sleepRapid eye movement sleep, associated with vivid dreaming, paralysis of voluntary muscles and high brain activity.
NREM sleepNon-REM sleep, divided into stages 1-4; deepest sleep (stage 4) features slow delta waves.
Freud's dream theoryDreams express unconscious wishes; manifest content disguises latent content via condensation and symbolism.
Activation-synthesisHobson and McCarley's 1977 theory: dreams are the cortex's attempt to make sense of random pontine activity.
Circadian rhythmRoughly 24-hour biological cycle controlling sleep-wake, regulated by the suprachiasmatic nucleus.
InsomniaPersistent difficulty falling or staying asleep, leading to daytime impairment; primary or secondary causes.
Common mistakes to avoid
Questions where students often pick the tempting wrong answer — make sure you know the right one:
What does the behaviourist approach study?✗ The unconscious mind and dreams. ✓ Observable behaviour and how it is learned.
Do all psychological approaches explain behaviour the same way?✗ Yes, all approaches agree on causes. ✓ No — they differ (e.g. behaviourist, cognitive, biological, psychodynamic).
Practise Sleep & Dreaming — free games
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