What is Sleepwalking?

Sleepwalking, also known as somnambulism, is an unconscious activity that occurs during sleep. It is typically characterized by walking indoors or outdoors, and in more severe cases, engaging in simple activities. Sleepwalkers usually have a blank expression, show little or no response to mild stimuli, and may have partially open eyes but are difficult to awaken.

The words spoken and actions taken by sleepwalkers may be incomprehensible to others. The portrayal of committing murder or acting heroically in dreams, as depicted in novels and movies, is a fabrication based on the unconscious characteristics of sleepwalking.

Although sleepwalking is referred to as a behavior during dreams, it is actually unrelated to dreaming. Sleepwalking occurs during the stage of deep sleep when dreaming does not occur, making the term "sleepwalking" a more accurate description of this behavior during sleep.

Scientists have observed and analyzed individuals who frequently sleepwalk and identified several factors contributing to sleepwalking:

1. Psychosocial factors: Irregular daily routines, high environmental stress, anxiety, fear, troubled family relationships, academic pressure, and poor exam performance are associated with sleepwalking.

2. Developmental factors: Sleepwalking is more common in children, and longitudinal studies indicate that many children who sleepwalk eventually recover, suggesting a close connection between sleepwalking and physical development.

3. Deep sleep: Sleepwalking often occurs during the first third of the deep sleep phase. Factors such as excessive daytime fatigue, consecutive nights of insufficient sleep, and the use of sleep aids before bedtime can deepen the depth of sleep and increase the likelihood of sleepwalking.

4. Genetic factors: Sleepwalking is considered a medical condition with genetic influences. Research has shown a higher incidence of positive family history among sleepwalkers, and the probability of sleepwalking is significantly higher in identical twins compared to fraternal twins.

Sigmund Freud's interpretation of sleepwalking has philosophical implications. He divided the personality into the id (instincts and desires), ego (reason and will), and superego (moral constraints and conscience). The ego usually restrains the id, but when the power of the id becomes uncontrollable, it breaks through the ego's defenses and leads to inappropriate actions. Freud believed that sleepwalking is a manifestation of the ego, but because it is beyond conscious control, it is considered devoid of responsibility.