Dream Analysis Flashcards
Component: Dreams as wish fulfilment
All dreams unconscious fulfilment of things unable to be expressed in conscious
Dreams protect sleeper + allow expression of buried urges
Component: Symbolic nature of dreams
Content of dreams expressed symbolically
Latent - Real meaning of dream
Manifest - Content experienced
E.g. Falling represents fear of losing control
However, Freud recognise not everything symbolic
Component: Dreamwork
Latent transformed to manifest through dreamwork processes:
Representation - Thought translated to visual images
Condensation - One dream image represents several ideas
Symbolism - Symbol replaces idea e.g. gun represents penis
Component: Role of therapist
Job = Reverse dreamwork processes
Decode manifest to latent
Offer various manifest interpretations
Effectiveness: Methodological issues
Dream research conducted in sleep labs = low ecological validity
Dream/ Sleep may not be as authentic as when under normal conditions
Present confounding variables = Participants often sleep deprived, disrupts certain hormones etc..
So, results should be interpreted with caution
Effectiveness: Subjective interpretation
Therapist uses subjective pov to interpret manifest content into latent
May be unreliable interpretations
Goes against scientific aims of psychology
Ethics: False memory syndrome
False memories coming to light during dream analysis when therapist claims to unearth past trauma
Affects patients identity + relationships
Therapist authority figure so patients believe interpretations
Psychologically harms patient
Ethics: Emotional harm
Therapist uncovers interpretation that emotionally distresses patient
Causes more stress than stress because of clients current problems
However, is this necessary for patient to fully recover?
Aims of dream analysis
Assumes that behaviour caused by tripartite and unconscious, so aims to change behaviour by interpreting dreams as unconscious desires and information that can help cure behaviour
