...The interpretation of dreams by dream experts may be almost as old as dreaming itself. We know that all humans, and many animals, dream every night, and humans have always been fascinated to learn what causes dreams and what they mean. Freud rightly termed dreams "The Royal Road to the Unconscious". In the next few months I am going to build up a section on dreams which will allow you a far greater understanding of them. I begin toay with a basic introduction. The interpretation of dreams dates back at least as far as 3000-4000 B.C. We know that because the interpretations of dreams were recorded in permanent form on clay tablets. It is thought that many primitive peoples were unable to initially distinguish between the real world and the dream world. In many cases, these people looked upon the dream world as an extension of the physical world around them, and in many cases they saw the dream world as more powerful than the waking one. This of course could be said to have a lot of credibility because what we do not acknowledge in ourselves does tend to come up from the unconscious and affect our lives when we least expect it. Many early societies developed sophisticated ways of working with dreams. This is where the ideas of "creative dreaming" and "lucid dreaming"comes from Dream interpretation was so important to the ancient Greek and Roman's that dream interpreters often accompanied generals and other military leaders into battles. Dreams were taken extremely...
Words: 1298 - Pages: 6
...inform: To inform my audience on dreams Intro: Can you remember the last dream you had? Maybe you could fly or were falling down an endless dark tunnel. Perhaps you were awakened by a horrific dream in the middle of the night. If any of you are like me you experience vivid dreams. I would like to start by share one of my dream experiences with you all. About two months ago I had a dream that my boyfriend was cheating on me, now I know all you girls and guys can relate to this. I wake up in the morning with my dream still fresh on my mind and in a horrible mood. I am furious at my boyfriend, and for what reason? He hasn’t even done anything, but the thing is in my mind he has, because my dream is so vivid and real to me. So guys maybe this will help you understand that your girlfriend isn’t crazy and girls take it easy on them, it was just a dream. John Lennon once said, “I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one.” Indeed he’s not, because all of us experience dreams. You may have many question unanswered about dreams, like why you can’t remember all of your dream right after you wake up, or what your strange and wild dreams are really about. All of your questions can be answered once you are informed of the history of dream, the process of remembering dreams, and all the aspects of interpreting dreams. I have completed countless hours of research on dreams and what they mean, so today I hope to help answer some of your lingering questions about dreams. So let’s get stated by talking...
Words: 709 - Pages: 3
...Title: Sweet Dreams Topic: Dreams General Purpose: To inform Specific Purpose: By the end of my speech, my audience will have a greater understanding of dreams. Introduction I. Attention-getting device: Did you know that we spend an average of six years of our lives dreaming? (Dream Moods, Inc., 2010) II. Relevance to the audience: Even though some of us may not remember our dreams, everyone dreams! III. Ethos: I personally am one of those people who rarely remember their dreams, but the study of dreams is something that has always intrigued me. IV. Central idea: Dreams are an important topic because everyone dreams. V. Preview of main points: Today I would like to share some information with you about the history, types, and interpretations of dreams. Transition: First of all I am going to briefly define dreams and tell you a bit about their history. Body I. A dream can be defined many different ways, but according to Webster’s dictionary a dream is a series of thoughts, images or emotions occurring during sleep. (Merriam-Webster, 2011) a. The first recorded dream dates back to seventh century BC and was also the first recorded story: The Chronicle of Gilgamesh. A story about “the hero’s journey,” which was recorded on clay tablets in Assyria. b. In the era of the Old Testament God spoke to humans by way of dreams. For example, Daniel ‘s dream interpretation saved him for death in the lion’s den. c. In ancient Greece the study of dreams becomes more complex and...
Words: 898 - Pages: 4
...The Project Gutenberg EBook of Dream Psychology, by Sigmund Freud This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net Title: Dream Psychology EBOOK DREAM PSYCHOLOGY *** Produced by David Newman, Joel Schlosberg and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. DREAM PSYCHOLOGY PSYCHOANALYSIS FOR BEGINNERS BY PROF. DR. SIGMUND FREUD AUTHORIZED ENGLISH TRANSLATION BY M. D. EDER WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY ANDRÉ TRIDON Author of "Psychoanalysis, its History, Theory and Practice." "Psychoanalysis and Behavior" and "Psychoanalysis, Sleep and Dreams" NEW YORK THE JAMES A. McCANN COMPANY 1920 THE JAMES A. McCANN COMPANY PRINTED IN THE U.S.A. INTRODUCTION The medical profession is justly conservative. Human life should not be considered as the proper material for wild experiments. Conservatism, however, is too often a welcome excuse for lazy minds, loath to adapt themselves to fast changing conditions. Remember the scornful reception...
Words: 54257 - Pages: 218
...Dreams: Could They Be All They Are Made Out To Be? ³Over a seventy-year life span, you¹ll devote at least fifty thousand hours to dreaming² (Segell 42). These dreams can be made up of many things. They can be a window into another world or ³like a urgent fax from your subconscious² (Graves 97). Many things can affect what we dream about and they are not always our previous thoughts. Things such as gender, information gained during the course of time, or even sensations received while asleep all contribute to the content of dreams. Many times they contribute more than most people think. Gender affects many things, including the way we dream. ³Men typically dream about fighting, protecting, or competing in an outside environment; women are more likely to dream about relationships and loss in an inside environment² (Segell 42). Most men have been brought up with the notion that they must have more of a tendency of being aggressive. In this aggression they either dream about how aggressive they are or about the lack of aggression in their daily routine. Women, on the other hand, have typically been brought up to be more emotional than men. This up bringing has also affected the way women dream. ³Women are more likely to dial into their interior life whether awake or asleep² (Segell 42). This means that women will read into their dreams more frequently then men. Researchers have found that problems that occur during the day either at work or home and are worked through...
Words: 970 - Pages: 4
...Dream Analysis and Interpretation Concordia University- Wisconsin KA October 9, 2012 COUN-554 All human beings are also dream beings. Dreaming ties all mankind together. - Jack Kerouac Humans have been studying and trying to understand the meaning behind dreams and what exactly they mean. Although, dream interpretations have been around since 3000-4000B.C., there is still great controversy over analyzing and understanding dreams. According to (Word IQ, 2010), dream interpretation is the art of determining the meaning of the symbolic content of a dream. During the Greek and Roman periods, dreams were believed to be direct messages from their gods or the dead. They believed that dreams forewarned and predicted the future, and therefore, provided them with solutions on how to handle situations. The Greek and Roman people had self-help techniques for inducing certain dreams. They also believed in the significance of dreams, and used interpreters to work alongside both military and political leaders. Dream interpretation is also a part of psychoanalysis; psychoanalytical therapists analyze the content of the dream, perception of dream, hidden content of a dream, and the meaning of the dream and the reasons the dream occurred. Sigmund Freud’s pioneering psychoanalytic approach to interpreting dreams is currently used in Modern-day therapeutic settings. Another approach to dream interpretation is from a Christian biblical perspective. Dream interpretation dates...
Words: 1585 - Pages: 7
...Tips to Deal With Bad Reoccuring Dreams By Robert Russell, eHow Contributor People have always been fascinated with dreams. The first chapter of Freud's "Interpretation of Dreams" is devoted to a historical survey about how different cultures and civilizations have dealt with dreams. Freud was interested in developing a scientific theory of dream interpretation. While Freud's theory never gained universal acceptance, it did help to point out how psychological and physiological factors play a role in dreams. One of the points in Freud's theory is that dreams have causes and understanding the cause helps to resolves the issues involved with the dream. 1. Write the Dream Down One of the characteristics of dreams is their elusive character. The specific details of the dream easily slip away after people awaken. Understanding the particular details helps to make sense of a dream which is one of the first steps in understanding the reasons or causes of the dream. A recurring nightmare or bad dream may leave a person with a sense of fear and anxiety but with an inability to pinpoint the exact nature of the fear. Keep a pen and a pad of paper on a bedside table. Jot down the general impression of the nightmare, the context and persons involved in as much specific detail as you can. Analyze the Content Interpreting and analyzing the contents of a dream helps to identify the issues that may be responsible for the dream. The content of a dream may be inspired by a contemporary...
Words: 636 - Pages: 3
...DREAM ANALYSIS This reflective essay illustrates Freud’s theory of dream analysis. It will begin with a brief overview of Freudian dream theory and will go on to describe the various components of personality structure and the unconscious from a psychodynamic perspective. This essay will analyse one of my personal dreams using Freud’s dream analysis theory and conclude with a critical reflection on the application of his theory as it relates to my dream. When Freud famously referred to dreams as being the ‘royal road to the unconscious’, he meant that dreams were a way in which to access the unconscious mind. Dream analysis in psychoanalysis is the process used to explore the role dreams play in the unconscious (Corey, 2005). The purpose of Freud’s theory of dream analysis is to gain better access to the unconscious in order to bring it into the conscious (Day, 2008). Freud believed that the mind represses painful events that the conscious does not want to remember due to the pain and anxiety they cause (Scharf, 2008). These repressed desires and motivations are freed through dreams which are a direct connection to the unconscious. Freud saw the unconscious as sexual and instinctual in nature and the dream as a disguised unfulfilled wish (Welsh, 1994). To better understand the dynamics between the conscious and the unconscious parts of the mind, Freud (1994) developed the structural model of the psyche which he called “the psychic apparatus”. Freud proposed that the part...
Words: 2326 - Pages: 10
...Dreams can be both fascinating and baffling, which is why they have garnered attention from philosophers, artists, writers and poets for thousands of years. Only fairly recently in history have researchers began to scientifically study the dreaming process. While people still disagree about the exact purpose of dreams and the possible interpretations of dream content, this area remains a topic of interest for both psychologists, researchers, students and anyone who wonders about the reasons behind their dreams. Dream Meanings and Interpretation: Do you often find yourself exactly why you dreamed what you did, especially after having particularly strange dreams? Despite the research and interest in dreaming, no one yet fully understands how to interpret dream meanings. Sigmund Freud’s theory of dreams contributed a great deal to the general interest in dream interpretation. Books and dream dictionaries have helped ensure that the topic remains popular today. Dreams can be mysterious, but understanding the meaning of our dreams can be downright baffling. The content of our dreams can shift suddenly, feature bizarre elements or frighten us with terrifying imagery. The fact that dreams can be so rich and compelling is what causes many to believe that there must be some meaning to our dreams. Theories about Dreams: While many theories exist to explain why we dream, no one yet fully understands their purpose, let alone how to interpret the meaning of dreams. In fact, some prominent...
Words: 659 - Pages: 3
...Dream Interpretation Jami Hoffner Psychology 131 Dr. Deadre Holmes March 7, 2013 Dream interpretation is widely studied by a vast amount of people. The article includes different types of methods used by psychologist. As well unique theories of what a dream is or means, or if a dreams mean anything at all. The article talks about how people interoperate dreams into real life and how dreams effect our actions. Dreams more heavily influenced our judgment than when we are conscious stated by the article. Its funny to think that in our dreams we are more honest and truthful then in reality. This is because we are scared of what society is to think, and the effects our actions could have. In real life you can't just wake up and start over as you can do in a dream. In dreams we have more control of "our world" but when awake were in Gods world. God is the controller of our fate and we are the control of our actions. Our dreams are more like a test run to see how something will or may play out. They give you the sense of what to do, what to think, and who to be. As the article states if a woman were to wake up from a dream where her husband had an affair it could affect the way she thinks, and may lead her to start panicking and becoming curious. Leading to conclude that our internal thoughts can stimulate external actions. This article even states that dreams can some how predict what is to come or to happen, such as a death in the family or house burning. Its been...
Words: 1187 - Pages: 5
...Project Gutenberg EBook of Dream Psychology, by Sigmund Freud This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net Title: Dream Psychology Psychoanalysis for Beginners Author: Sigmund Freud Release Date: March 28, 2005 [EBook #15489] Language: English Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 *** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DREAM PSYCHOLOGY *** Produced by David Newman, Joel Schlosberg and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. DREAM PSYCHOLOGY PSYCHOANALYSIS FOR BEGINNERS BY PROF. DR. SIGMUND FREUD AUTHORIZED ENGLISH TRANSLATION BY M. D. EDER WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY ANDRÉ TRIDON Author of "Psychoanalysis, its History, Theory and Practice." "Psychoanalysis and Behavior" and "Psychoanalysis, Sleep and Dreams" NEW YORK THE JAMES A...
Words: 57348 - Pages: 230
...Dreams are successions of images, ideas, emotions, and sensations that occur involuntarily in the mind during certain stages of sleep.[1] The content and purpose of dreams are not definitively understood, though they have been a topic of scientific speculation, as well as a subject of philosophical and religious interest, throughout recorded history. The scientific study of dreams is called oneirology.[2] Dreams mainly occur in the rapid-eye movement (REM) stage of sleep—when brain activity is high and resembles that of being awake. REM sleep is revealed by continuous movements of the eyes during sleep. At times, dreams may occur during other stages of sleep. However, these dreams tend to be much less vivid or memorable.[3] The length of a dream can vary; they may last for a few seconds, or approximately 20–30 minutes.[3] People are more likely to remember the dream if they are awakened during the REM phase. The average person has three to five dreams per night, but some may have up to seven dreams in one night.[4] The dreams tend to last longer as the night progresses. During a full eight-hour night sleep, most dreams occur in the typical two hours of REM.[5] In modern times, dreams have been seen as a connection to the unconscious mind. They range from normal and ordinary to overly surreal and bizarre. Dreams can have varying natures, such as frightening, exciting, magical, melancholic, adventurous, or sexual. The events in dreams are generally outside the control of the...
Words: 6296 - Pages: 26
...October 2012 Short Paper A Slow, Warm Death: An Analysis of My Dreams Sigmund Freud’s lifelong research of dreams is in many ways the most distinctive and remarkable element in his massive survey of the human psyche. It is the subject of his most important work, The Interpretation of Dreams, which, besides being what it's title already indicates, also serves as a work of confession. Freud committed to it's pages many of the findings of his own dream analysis. Throughout his legendary career, Freud continued to feel an irreplaceable bond to dream interpretation, both for the exactness of it's unique findings and for the precious evidence it provided for the deeper workings of the human mind. Neil Gaiman has said the following in response to the mystifying nature of dreaming: “People think dreams aren't real just because they aren't made of matter, of particles. Dreams are real. But they are made of viewpoints, of images, of memories and puns and lost hopes.” In this essay, I will emulate the role of Sigmund Freud and attempt to psychoanalyze my own dreams. An eerie sense of doom seems to pervade the majority of my dreams--typically, some form of tragedy or misfortune either befalls me or my loved ones. In "Doctor Whooves", for example, I am heading to my kitchen for a late night snack, only to be pursued and attacked by a half-horse, half-human Doctor Who. I do not actually follow this show, but this dream seems to reflect the drastic influence of my friends upon my life...
Words: 946 - Pages: 4
...Composition and Literary Interpretation 21 April 2012 Illustration of Pride Pride is an individual feeling that can be connected to anything that a person feels is significant to them. “A Raisin in the Sun” is an excellent example of the illustration of pride as it paints the picture of the theme of pride differently for every character involved. The dreams of each member of the Younger family are connected to what makes them feel proud of their home, family, jobs and even their place in society. The play was named from the poem “Dream Deferred” (Booth & Mays, 2010). The poem examines the possibility of what happens when a dream does not come to fruition. The first presentation of the Younger family is a picture of poverty as the family begins the day awaking from different places in a tiny apartment and shuffling out into the main hall to fight for a turn in the shared bathroom. The apartment holds as assortment of tired, worn out furnishing that have seen much better times. This seems to be a mirror image of the family members as they come into the story. Each family member is unique and possesses a different personal quality. Ruth seems tired and weary, Travis is young and full of hope, not yet realizing his place in society and being a little naïve; Walter has a master plan to break out of the current situation but seems reckless and unprepared for his dreams. Beneatha seems to be very motivated in life as she studies to be a doctor but has a political agenda for almost...
Words: 738 - Pages: 3
...Dreams have long exercised a fascination over the human imagination. We spend approximately one-third of our lives in a state of sleep, much of the night filled with dreams. Peculiarly vivid or disturbing dreams leave behind impressions that are hard to dismiss. In Freud Sigmund’s view, the purpose of dreams is to allow us to satisfy in fantasies; the instinctual urges that society judges unacceptable. The part of the mind that Freud called censor transforms the dream content so as to disguise its true meaning. Freud called the censorship process the dreamwork. There is five processes brought into play during dream-work: displacement, condensation, symbolization, projection, and secondary revision. Did you ever awaken from a particularly vivid dream to find yourself having trouble, shaking the eerie, feeling it left behind? Was the dream simply the residue of your hectic day or something far more significant? Dream has always been a fascinating topic. I chose to know more about it because we are living in a world where our mind is a crucial part of our body. At night, we do not really comprehend how our mind works. When we are sleeping, we see images in our dreams sometimes stories or even the future. How does it all work? Where are those images coming from? Sigmund Freud in his book “ Interpretation of Dreams”, states that the dream is composed of two parts; the manifest and the latent content. The manifest content can be thought of as what a person would remember as soon...
Words: 1090 - Pages: 5