Why do you think we Why do you think we dream?dream?

The Interpretation of The Interpretation of DreamsDreams

Freud and JungFreud and Jung

Freud and dreamsFreud and dreams::

• FREUD was fully aware of the FREUD was fully aware of the importance of dreams and described importance of dreams and described them as the "ROYAL ROAD" to them as the "ROYAL ROAD" to understanding the unconscious. understanding the unconscious.

• His big idea is that dreams have His big idea is that dreams have MANIFEST MANIFEST (what we actually dream)(what we actually dream) and LATENT and LATENT (the unfulfilled wish that (the unfulfilled wish that the dream represents) meanings.the dream represents) meanings.

Freud’s main thoughts about Freud’s main thoughts about dreams:dreams:

• our conscious mind actively tries to our conscious mind actively tries to reject the messages of our dreamsreject the messages of our dreams

• we "repress" this knowledge and so we "repress" this knowledge and so dreams are often an expression of a dreams are often an expression of a repressed wish that we would rather repressed wish that we would rather not admit tonot admit to

• dreams require analysis to discover dreams require analysis to discover their true meaningtheir true meaning

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• Freud's main technique for analysing Freud's main technique for analysing the dream was free association. Here the dream was free association. Here the dreamer is encouraged to look not the dreamer is encouraged to look not at the direct content of the dream but at the direct content of the dream but at the thoughts and emotions it at the thoughts and emotions it generates. These will then lead to other generates. These will then lead to other thoughts and emotions and so on. At its thoughts and emotions and so on. At its simplest free association is simply simplest free association is simply saying whatever comes into your head. saying whatever comes into your head.

Example of free association

• Freud would look at each individual Freud would look at each individual component of a dream and use each component of a dream and use each as a starting point for free as a starting point for free association then attempt to pull all association then attempt to pull all the threads together into an overall the threads together into an overall analysis. analysis.

• In this way the dreamer can "sneak In this way the dreamer can "sneak up" on repressed emotions.up" on repressed emotions.

The Collective Unconscious The Collective Unconscious & Jungian Archetypes& Jungian Archetypes

Like Freud, Jung believed that Like Freud, Jung believed that dreams are important dreams are important gateways to unknown parts of gateways to unknown parts of ourselves.ourselves.

• Whereas Freud believed that dreams Whereas Freud believed that dreams were frequently distorted in a were frequently distorted in a subconscious attempt at repression,subconscious attempt at repression,

• Jung believed that any such distortion Jung believed that any such distortion was usually unintentional. was usually unintentional.

• The dream was a direct message from The dream was a direct message from the personal unconscious.the personal unconscious.

• Jung was especially interested in Jung was especially interested in studying the archetypes related to studying the archetypes related to mythology and old religions. For mythology and old religions. For example, the example, the DragonDragon (or serpent) (or serpent) was an archetype representing the was an archetype representing the unconscious mind that had to be unconscious mind that had to be slain by the Hero. (archetypes could slain by the Hero. (archetypes could be literal or figurative)be literal or figurative)

Common archetypes:Common archetypes:

• Hero (quest)Hero (quest)

• MentorMentor

• VillainVillain

• InnocentInnocent

• HealerHealer

• Wise womanWise woman

• Jung preferred to stay with the dream Jung preferred to stay with the dream symbols themselves and analyse each one in symbols themselves and analyse each one in detail - a process of amplification. detail - a process of amplification.

• The dreamer was encouraged to "brainstorm" The dreamer was encouraged to "brainstorm" all the different symbolic associations for all the different symbolic associations for each aspect of the dream. each aspect of the dream.

• These would include personal, cultural and These would include personal, cultural and archetypal associations. As an example, say a archetypal associations. As an example, say a dream included birds. Possible associations dream included birds. Possible associations with this symbol would be flight, freedom, with this symbol would be flight, freedom, cage, etc. cage, etc.

Current theories on dreams:Current theories on dreams:• Dreams as rehearsal (teach us what to do if Dreams as rehearsal (teach us what to do if

bad things happen)bad things happen)

• Dreams as practice and learning (we learn Dreams as practice and learning (we learn better if we can sleep on it)better if we can sleep on it)

• Dreams are our brains chance to make sense Dreams are our brains chance to make sense of what we experienced during the dayof what we experienced during the day

• Dreams may work to protect and prepare us.Dreams may work to protect and prepare us.

Lucid Dreaming:Lucid Dreaming:

• Lucid dreaming means dreaming while knowing that Lucid dreaming means dreaming while knowing that you are dreaming. you are dreaming.

• Lucidity usually begins in the midst of a dream when Lucidity usually begins in the midst of a dream when the dreamer realizes that the experience is not the dreamer realizes that the experience is not occurring in physical reality, but is a dream. occurring in physical reality, but is a dream.

• Often this realization is triggered by the dreamer Often this realization is triggered by the dreamer noticing some impossible or unlikely occurrence in noticing some impossible or unlikely occurrence in the dream, such as flying or meeting the deceased. the dream, such as flying or meeting the deceased.

Most Common Reason Most Common Reason People want to lucid dream:People want to lucid dream:

• Wish fulfillmentWish fulfillment

• Overcoming nightmaresOvercoming nightmares

• Creative problem solvingCreative problem solving

Great site to learn more:Great site to learn more:

•http://www.lucidity.com/http://www.lucidity.com/

Old Hag SyndromeOld Hag Syndrome

Old Hag Syndrome= Sleep Old Hag Syndrome= Sleep Paralysis DisorderParalysis Disorder

• research suggests that sleep paralysis is correlated with REM research suggests that sleep paralysis is correlated with REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. (rapid eye movement) sleep.

• Our brain is fully active but our body is totally paralyzed.Our brain is fully active but our body is totally paralyzed.

• Neuro-scientists posit that sleep paralysis (and consequently Neuro-scientists posit that sleep paralysis (and consequently old hag syndrome) is the result of our mind waking up while old hag syndrome) is the result of our mind waking up while still in a REM cycle, and our body remaining immobilized still in a REM cycle, and our body remaining immobilized because of this safety mechanism which causes the often because of this safety mechanism which causes the often terrifying sensation of being fully awake and aware, and at terrifying sensation of being fully awake and aware, and at the same time paralyzed. the same time paralyzed.

• Equivalent to a lucid Nightmare.

• Not everyone believes that this fully explains the experience….

Vsauce- why do we dream?Vsauce- why do we dream?

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GGzc3x9WJUv=7GGzc3x9WJU