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Psychology of Dreams

Dreams are a sequential series of thoughts, images, and sounds that pass through the human mind during sleep. Dreams have a long history of theories and meanings, including both superstitious and scientific reasoning. Some believed they were divine messages from a god or a path to understanding the human unconscious. Some have even dismissed them as meaningless chemical reactions within the brain. The topic of dreams has always been subject to speculation and are still not fully understood.

Dream Theories

Throughout history there have been several theories about the psychology of dreams. The most notable coming from Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung, the Gestalt method, and Edgar Cayce. Freud's theory of dreams indicated that dreams contain hidden emotions buried deep in the subconscious. These emotions are part of a “wish-fulfillment” created by some sort of sexual frustration or desire. At odds with this theory, Jung believed that dreams were directly about life and progress and did not stem from any buried sexual conflicts. The Gestalt method looked at dreams as a whole and emphasized reliving these dreams to improve one's life. Lastly, Cayce saw dreams in a more spiritual light including the revelation of past lives and hidden aspects of personality.

  • Sigmund Freud: an overview of Freud's discoveries as portrayed in his 1900 work The Interpretation of Dreams.
  • Freud versus Jung: a look at how the theories of Freud and Jung differ as well as a look at their personal and professional conflicts.
  • Memories, Dreams, Reflections: a PDF document of the Jung's work on dreams.
  • Gestalt Therapy: an overview of the psychological method as well as its analysis of dreams.
  • Edgar Cayce: his theory on dreams and dream interpretation.
  • Dream Theories: a contrast and comparison of the major theories regarding dream analysis.
  • Sartre and Hobson: a look at the theories of these psychologists including the idea of an imprisoned unconscious.
  • Aristotle: an overview of the philosopher's take in the psychology of dreams.
  • Senoi Dream Theory: claims to give people control over their dreams to better balance a person's fear and desires.

Dream Recall

It has been suggested that most people do not remember 95% of their dreams. One explanation for this is that people literally sleep right through them and were not paying enough attention to the details. The dreams most likely to be remembered are the ones that take place at the end of a sleep cycle in which a person wakes during or immediately after a dream has taken place. The best way to remember dreams is to jot down their details and events immediately after waking when the dream is still fresh in your mind.

Techniques for Interpreting Dreams

There are many techniques to interpreting dreams. Most techniques involve separating the key events involved and looking for significance. Was the dream relevant to real life? Was is particularly disturbing or bizarre? Were there any patterns that relate to past dreams? Were there any common symbols? Additionally, many researchers believe the certain objects and occurrences that take place in dreams mean something specific. For instance, dreaming of a healthy orange tree denotes health and prosperity in an individual's life.
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