TY - CHAP A2 - Metzinger, Thomas K. A2 - Windt, Jennifer M. AB - The idea that dreaming is a simulation of the waking world is currently becoming a far more widely shared and accepted view among dream researchers. Several philosophers, psychologists, and neuroscientists have recently characterized dreaming in terms of virtual reality, immersive spatiotemporal simulation, or realistic and useful world simulation. Thus, the conception of dreaming as a simulated world now unifies definitions of the basic nature of dreaming within dream and consciousness research. This novel concept of dreaming has consequently led to the idea that social interactions in dreams, known to be a universal and abundant feature of human dream content, can best be characterized as a simulation of human social reality, simulating the social skills, bonds, interactions, and networks that we engage in during our waking lives. Yet this tempting idea has never before been formulated into a clear and empirically testable theory of dreaming. Here we show that a testable Social Simulation Theory (SST) of dreaming can be formulated, from which empirical predictions can be derived. Some of the predictions can gain initial support by relying on already existing data in the literature, but many more remain to be tested by further research. We argue that the SST should be tested by directly contrasting its predictions with the major competing theories on the nature and function of dreaming, such as the Continuity Hypothesis (CH) and the Threat Simulation Theory (TST). These three major theories of dreaming make differing predictions as to the quality and the quantity of social simulations in dreams. We will outline the first steps towards a theory-and-hypothesis-driven research program in dream research that treats dreaming as a simulated world in general and as a social simulation in particular. By following this research program it will be possible to find out whether dreaming is a relatively unselective and thus probably non-functional simulation of the waking world (CH), a simulation primarily specialized in the simulation of dangerous and threatening events that present important challenges for our survival and prosperity (TST), or whether it is a simulation primarily specialized in training the social skills and bonds most important for us humans as a social species (SST). Whatever the evidence for or against the specific theories turn out to be, in any case the conception of dreaming as a simulated world has already proved to be a fruitful theoretical approach to understanding the nature of dreaming and consciousness. AU - Revonsuo, Antti AU - Tuominen, Jarno AU - Valli, Katja CY - Frankfurt am Main DO - 10.15502/9783958570375 KW - Altered state of consciousness, Avatar, Consciousness, Continuity hypothesis, Dreaming, Evolutionary psychology, Inclusive fitness, Kin selection theory, Need to belong, Practise and preparation hypothesis, Reciprocal altruism theory, Simulation, Social brain hypothesis, Social mapping hypothesis, Social simulation theory, Sociometer theory, Strengthening hypothesis, The dream self, The inclusive fitness theory, Threat simulation theory, Virtual reality, Virtual reality metaphor LA - English PB - MIND Group PY - 2015 SE - 32(T) SN - 9783958570375 ST - The Avatars in the Machine: Dreaming as a Simulation of Social Reality T2 - Open MIND TI - The Avatars in the Machine: Dreaming as a Simulation of Social Reality UR - https://open-mind.net/papers/the-avatars-in-the-machine-dreaming-as-a-simulation-of-social-reality ID - 32