| Abstract | A lucid dream is defined as a dream in which the dreamer -- while dreaming -- is aware that he or she is dreaming (LaBerge, 1985; Schredl & Erlacher, 2004, p. 1463-1473). After realizing that they are in the dream state, lucid dreamers are able to remember waking memories (Erlacher, 2009, p. 37-40) and consciously influence the action occurring in such dreams (Tholey, 1981, p. 21-32). With these abilities, lucid dreamers are able to critically engage problems they would normally face in their waking life while in the highly associative state of REM sleep. This potentially allows them to look at their problems from a different perspective as well as come up with solutions that would typically be out of their mind's immediate awareness. Due to these features, lucid dreaming has the potential to serve as an effective problem-solving tool. However, if it was to be used in this way, what system of thinking would it fit into? Dual-process models come in many flavors, but all distinguish cognitive operations that are quick and associative from others that are slow and governed by rules (Gilbert, 1999). System 1, or the Intuitive System's processes, are characterized as automatic, effortless, associative, rapid, parallel, process opaque, and require skilled action. System 2, or the Reflective System's processes, are characterized as controlled, effortful, deductive, slow, serial, and require self-awareness and rule application (Kahneman, D., Frederick, S. 2002). This paper will discuss why lucid dreaming should be explored as a problem-solving method as well as how System 1 and System 2 thinking are involved in this process. |
