Often, it is thought that a dream is a result of the whole person’s personality. That is because modern analysts, such as Freud and Jung, believe that a dream is not an individual experience but rather an aspect of the whole personality. However, this is not always the case.
Psychoanalytic dream interpretation
Several psychologists have built impressive hypotheses without any proof. However, there are those who reach similar conclusions to those of Freud.
One example is the Self-Organization Theory of Dreaming. It proposes that dreams are byproducts of sleep and may have some practical use in the therapeutic process. It is based on emotions as an order parameter. The theory distinguishes between manifest dreams and latent dreams.
It is a pity that such a theory has not gained much traction in the field. Psychoanalysts would do well to consider the dream content of this theory as a potential source of inspiration. However, it may be a little hard to draw the connection between dream content and a symptom.
One of the most important aspects of this theory is its use of the self-organization mechanism to derive important information from dream content. This may be useful in the clinical treatment of dreams, especially with regard to neurotic symptoms.
A related phenomenon is the regressive nature of dreams. They traverse a determined temporal order, with excitation affecting the system along a retrograde path. However, this does not mean that dreams are riddles.
Jung’s theory of dreams
Among the theories of dreams proposed by the late twentieth century, one of the more interesting was developed by Carl Jung. The theory of dreams proposed by Jung sought to explain what a dream actually means.
According to Jung, a dream is a spontaneous self-portrait in symbolic form. It embodies something unknown to the ego, and can contain useful self-knowledge. The symbolic nature of a dream helps to facilitate a closer relationship with the preconscious.
The symbolism of a dream can be objective or subjective. An objective interpretation treats the dream as a description of a real-world object, while a subjective interpretation views the dream as a manifestation of the analyst’s inner life.
In Jung’s theory of dreams, every object in a dream corresponds to an element in the psyche of the dreamer. The dream also reflects the balance between ego consciousness and unconsciousness. This balance helps maintain a dynamic relationship between the conscious and unconscious mind.
Freud’s method of dream interpretation
Sigmund Freud, considered the father of psychoanalysis, devoted part of his life to dream interpretation. He developed theories based on analysis of patients with serious psychological issues. His theory has exerted a profound influence on twentieth-century thought. Despite this, many of his theories have been found incorrect.
Freud’s theory of dream interpretation begins with his belief that dreams are the expressions of repressed desires. Freud’s interpretation method seeks to replace decoding with free association. This is done by examining the dreamer’s unique style of representation.
The id is the primitive part of a person’s personality. It is impulsive, infantile, and irrational. It holds a wish for a cure or relief from a particular problem. Id can also cause anxiety. A taboo thought may lead to a phobia or cause an unwarranted anxiety response.
Freud believed that all dreams have two types of content. Manifest content, which is externally visible, is based on the day’s events. Latent content, which is internal, is based on thoughts and feelings in the mind.
