Psychodynamic Therapy - Dream Analysis

Question 1

What are the Aims of Dream Analysis?

Answer 1

• To reveal the unconscious and bring it to the conscious
• To uncover the latent content of a dream by examining the manifest content
• To offer insights that allow psychological issues to be resolved

Question 2

What happens to our mind when we sleep?

Answer 2

The ego defenses are lowered so that some repressed material comes through to awareness, but in disguised form

Question 3

What are the main components of Dream Analysis?

Answer 3

• Dreams as Wish Fulfillment
• The symbolic nature of dreams
• Dreamwork
• The role of the therapist

Question 4

What is Wish Fulfillment

Answer 4

Freud believed that all dreams were the unconscious fulfilment of wishes that could not be satisfied in the conscious mind. Dreams protect the sleeper and allow some expression of the buried urges

Question 5

What is the symbolic nature of dreams?

Answer 5

Although dreams allow us to fulfil our unconscious desires, the actual content of a dream is often expressed symbolically. This is to protect the conscious mind from being stressed. Therefore dreams are filtered through layers of symbolism

Question 6

What is Manifest Content?

Answer 6

What the dreamer actually recalls, the story of the dream

Question 7

What is Latent Content?

Answer 7

The hidden meaning of the dream, the underlying wish, desire or emotion

Question 8

What is Dreamwork?

Answer 8

When the latent content of the dream is transformed into the manifest content

Question 9

What are the 5 types of dreamwork?

Answer 9

• Condensation
• Displacement
• Secondary Elaboration
• Symbolism
• Representation

Question 10

What is Condensation?

Answer 10

Condensing many different ideas into one - one dream image could stand for several associations and ideas

Question 11

What is Displacement?

Answer 11

The emotional significance of the dream object is displaced onto another or person to protect our conscious mind

Question 12

What is Secondary Elaboration?

Answer 12

The unconscious mind collects all the different images and ties them together to make a logical story, further disguising the latent content

Question 13

What is Symbolism?

Answer 13

When a symbol replaces an action, person or idea

Question 14

What is Representation?

Answer 14

When a thought is translated into a visual image

Question 15

What is the role of the therapist?

Answer 15

The patient will talk to the therapist about the manifest content of their dream and the therapist will help guide the patient to uncovering the latent content

Question 16

Who decides the final interpretation of the dream?

Answer 16

The patient does after the therapist gives the patient several interpretations of the dream

Question 17

What are the limitations of Dream Analysis?

Answer 17

• The use of case studies
• Methodological issues

Question 18

What is a strength of Dream Analysis?

Answer 18

• Lots of research support

Question 19

What are the ethical problems of Dream Analysis?

Answer 19

• Emotional Harm to client and family
• The power the therapist has over the client
• False memory syndrome

Question 20

List the process of Dream Analysis Therapy

Answer 20

1. Dreamer recalls dream
2. Therapist tries to uncover Dreamwork
3. Therapist reverses Dreamwork
4. Uncovers the latent content
5. Therapist makes several interpretations of the dream
6. The client selects which one applies to them the best