Question

“For what one has dwelt on by day, these things are seen in visions of the night” (Menander of Athens [342-292 B.C.E.], Fragments). Consider this quote from the wish-fulfillment, information-processing, and activation-synthesis perspectives on dreaming.

Answer 1

The quote “For what one has dwelt on by day, these things are seen in visions of the night” by Menander of Athens states what is proposed in the information-processing theory of dreaming. Information-processing and other cognitive processes are applicable both for the awake, thinking mind and the dreaming mind. It explains the dreaming proposes by stating that the brain activity during REM sleep enables one to sift through all the thoughts one has dwelt on by day. Which are the daily events and activities one has been thinking about.

Wish Fulfillment Theory however explains dreams by their purpose to virtually fulfill unexpressed wishes. Freud in his theory states that dreaming is an unconscious attempt to satisfy ungratified needs. And the dreams signify internal conflicts, thus something which might cause one to dwell on. But many of the times, the need might be suppressed and unconscious, so the above quote isn't essentially related to wish-fulfillment theory.

Activation-Synthesis Theory states that dreams are explained by the neural activity that takes place in brain during sleeping. And neuroscientists state that the cause of shifting of dream scenes is due to the rise and fall of levels of different neurotransmitters in the brain. This theory gives a lot of attention to the role neural activity at the time of dreaming and doesn't give credit to the role of life events in formation or changing of dreams. Thus it stays far away from what is described in the above quote by Menander of Athens