Psychologists have long speculated about the reasons for dreaming. Dreams can be so complex, vivid and surreal, which is why so many people have suggested that there must be some deeper purpose behind them.

Why do we dream? A new study suggest dreaming is exercise for the brain.

According to a new study by sleep and dream expert J. Allan Hobson, dreams might just be the brain's way of preparing for all of experiences it will encounter upon waking.

"It helps explain a lot of things, like why people forget so many dreams," Dr. Hobson told The New York Times. "It's like jogging; the body doesn't remember every step, but it knows it has exercised. It has been tuned up. It's the same idea here: dreams are tuning the mind for conscious awareness."

You can read more about the study in this article from The New York Times: A Dream Interpretation: Tuneups for the Brain.

• Why Do We Dream?
• The Characteristics of Dreams
• Dream Interpretation

If you're taking a class on personality psychology this semester, now is the time to start preparing for final exams. Test your knowledge by taking our latest quiz on personality and personality theories. Take the Personality Psychology Quiz!

Related:

• Personality Psychology Study Guide
• Theories of Personality

While earning a graduate degree is required for many psychology jobs, the fact is that approximately 75% of students who earn a bachelor's degree in psychology do not go to graduate school. According to one study, only about 25% of psychology undergraduates end up working in a field that is closely related to their major.

Learn more about what you can do with a bachelor's degree in psychology.
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Despite these numbers, it is important to remember that having a bachelor's degree in psychology is great preparation for careers in a wide variety of fields. Psychology undergraduate programs can vary considerably in terms of goals, but there are some very useful skills that these programs tend to focus on including:

• Communication skills: In addition to gaining a solid understanding of how people communicate, psychology majors also learn how to read, write and present information to others.


• Research skills: Psychology undergraduate spend a great deal of type researching, analyzing and synthesizing complex information.


• Interpersonal skills: Understanding the needs of other people, solving problems in a group and interacting well with others are skills valued by virtually all employers.

As you plan for your future career, start by making yourself aware of the many different options that are available. By carefully planning your future and being aware of the different opportunities that are out there, you can find a career that is perfectly suited to your educational background, skills and personality. Learn more about ten different entry-level career options in this article on what you can do with a bachelor's degree in psychology.

Have you ever scrambled to write a last-minute paper?

Find great tips for writing last-minute papers.
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I'll admit that I have on several occasions. While procrastination obviously is not the best way to approach an assignment, there are steps you can take to craft a winning paper without losing your cool. About.com's Guide to Homework/Study Tips, Grace Fleming, offers these five tips for writing a last-minute paper that can help you focus your efforts and get your paper done as quickly as possible.

You can also check out some great ideas for psychology papers and these psychology paper topics if you are still struggling to come up with a topic.