Attachment hypothesis of REM sleep: Toward an integration of psychoanalysis, neuroscience, and evolutionary psychology and the implications for psychopathology research.

Abstract

In this article the authors propose, on the basis of a review of the evolutionary and neuropsychological study of REM sleep, that REM sleep functions to promote attachment and that in the mature state it may promote sexual pair bonding and serve related compensatory functions. The attachment hypothesis is consistent with known psychobiologic correlates of REM sleep, with classical psychoanalytic theory regarding dreams, and with evidence from research on attachment. The authors argue that this hypothesis leads to a new understanding of the role of repression and the dream work, and has broad implications for psychopathology research. They argue that although many in the cognitive and neural sciences have largely dismissed S. Freud's (1900/1953) theorizing on dreams, there is important complementarity when it is evaluated through the lens of the attachment hypothesis.

Why Do Healthy Men Experience Morning Erections?

“…Men are able to have sex with these erections, which may have the benefits of enabling sexual excitation, couples resolving marital conflicts, and their partners getting involved [11,16,19,42,49]. In conclusion, it can be said that REM sleep promotes development of both attachable and/or recreational and reproductive strategies in human beings [11 -13], while REM sleep-related erection has been observed to be helpful for couples who are under stress physically or psychologically to have sex [13,14]. Accordingly, it is said that sex with an REM sleep-related erection would be the best opportunity for both procreation and recreation.…”

“…As mentioned earlier, some researchers stated that REM sleep evolved to promote attachment in unattached sexual partners [12,13]. That is, men who have relationship problems may try sexual intercourse by genital erections during REM sleep [14].…”

“…Women, who refused their husbands at other times, did not reject their husbands who came to their room while they were sleeping, when they had penile erections [42 -44]. This indicates that their sexual encounters by the REM sleep-related erections would serve a palliative function especially during time of physical and/or psychological stress [14].…”

“…As mentioned earlier, some researchers stated that REM sleep evolved to promote attachment in unattached sexual partners [12,13]. That is, men who have relationship problems may try sexual intercourse by genital erections during REM sleep [14].As for Korean couples, some who had relationship problems with their spouses do not choose divorce or separation as a solution. Many of them tend to believe that the problems can be solved if they have sex with their partners [42].…”

“…Women, who refused their husbands at other times, did not reject their husbands who came to their room while they were sleeping, when they had penile erections [42 -44]. This indicates that their sexual encounters by the REM sleep-related erections would serve a palliative function especially during time of physical and/or psychological stress [14].According to a study of part-time college students who had their sexual partners, some of them reported to have sex early in the morning before getting up. In general, the majority of sexual encounters take place at bedtime, that is, people begin to sleep after having sex, while some of the encounters do occur during the daytime [45].…”