Sigmund Freud on Dreams - Coursework Example

Introduction: Sharpe and Faulkner (2008) identify a dream as a succession of emotions, ideas, images, and sensations which occur in the mind of an individual, at specific stages of his sleep. Freud and Lieberman (2012) further believe that the purpose and content of a dream is not clearly understood; this is despite the existence of scientific speculation and religious interests regarding the study of dreams. Sharpe and Faulkner (2008) further denote that oneirology is the study of dreams. Scholars denote that the stage of sleep at which dreams normally occur is the rapid eye movement stage, and it is commonly abbreviated as REM. At this stage of REM, there is a continuous movement of an individual’s eye (Freud and Lieberman, 2012). Scholars denote that dreams may occur at other stages of an individual’s sleep (Sharpe and Faulkner, 2008). However, these scholars are in agreement that the dream under consideration is not memorable, or is less vivid (Sharpe and Faulkner, 2008). One of the scholars who has written extensively on dreams is Sigmund Freud. This paper gives an elaborate description of the Freudian theory of dreams, and his analysis. This paper also identifies the tools of analyzing a dream that Sigmund Freud identified, and the different parts of the brain and the dreams. This paper also contains a critique of the Sigmund Freud theory of dreams, and identifies modern research on this aspect of dreams. Sigmund Freud and Dreams: Sigmund Freud began to analyze this aspect of dreams, for purposes of understanding how the personality of an individual related to pathology (Freud and Lieberman, 2012). Freud believed that any activity that an individual engaged in, does not occur by chance. In his own opinion, every thought and action is under the motivation of the unconscious personality of an individual (Freud and Lieberman, 2012). Freud further goes on to denote that for purposes of living in a civilized society, an individual must have the capability of repressing his impulses, and holding back their urges (Freud and Eder, 2001). However, Freud believed that these impulses and urges have to be released in some other ways, and in a disguised form. On this basis, Sigmund Freud explains that these impulses and urges are on most occasions expressed through dreams (Freud and Eder, 2001). Freud explains that the contents of the unconscious mind are always harmful and disturbing, and on this basis, the unconscious mind will always be under the expression of a symbolic language (Freud and Lieberman, 2012). Freud further identifies three very important parts of the mind, these parts are, the Id, Ego, and Superego. In the view of Freud, the Id is that part of the brain that centers on primal impulses, unchecked urges, pleasure, desires, and wish fulfillment (Freud and Eder, 2001). The Ego on the other hand is that part of the brain that concerns itself with the rational, conscious, self awareness, and rational behavior (Sharpe and Faulkner, 2008). Sigmund Freud further believes that the Super Ego is a censor for the id. He goes on to denote that the superego enforces the moral codes of an individual’s ego (Freud and Lieberman, 2012). In explaining his concept of dreams, Sigmund Freud denotes that when an individual wakes up, then his desires and impulses are under the suppression of the superego (Sharpe and Faulkner, 2008). Freud further explains that through dreams, an individual is able to get glimpses of his or her unconscious mind. This is because during the time in which an individual is engaged in a dream, his or her guards are down. On this basis, the unconscious mind of an individual is able to get an opportunity to act and depict the hidden desires of an individual’s id. Freud denotes that the desires of an id, are on most occasion harmful, and psychologically disturbing (Sharpe and Faulkner, 2008). On this basis, the censor comes in to translate these desires by using symbols that are more acceptable. Freud denotes that this is a very important role that the censor plays, as it will help to prevent an individual from waking up, in a manner that he is shocked at the images witnessed in his or her dream (Sharpe and Faulkner, 2008). The images brought forth by the censors are always cryptic and confusing. Freud believes that the super ego is the major cause of an individual’s inability to remember certain aspects of his or her dream. This is because the super ego is protecting the mind, from harmful images that emanate from the unconscious mind.  Interpretation and Tools: In his interpretation of dreams, Freud believed that dreams have a latent content, as well as a manifest content (Freud and Eder, 2001). The manifest content entails the information that the dream wants to bring. Freud denotes that the manifest content is nonsensical, and bizarre. The latent content on the other hand is the information that the dream is actually bringing forward. On this basis, Freud explains that an individual can chip into the manifest and latent content of a dream, through the utilization of a technique referred to as free association (Peters, Olssen and Lankshear, 2003). In using this technique, Freud denotes that an individual will start analyzing one dream, and then following it up with the information that automatically comes into an individual’s brain (Freud and Eder, 2001). Freud argues that an individual will continue in this technique, until he or she finally comes to the conclusion, on what the dream meant. For purposes of easily interpreting the cryptic images in a dream, Freud identified the following tools and processes (Bakan, 2004), Displacement: This is depicted when the desire for one product or person, is symbolized by another product, or someone else. Projection: This occurs when an individual dreaming propels his or her own desires to another person. Symbolization: This occurs when the repressed or suppressed urges and desires of a dreamer are acted out in a metaphorical manner. Condensation: This is a process whereby the dreamer is able to hide his or her feelings by contracting it into a brief dream event or image. On this basis, the meaning of his or her dream will not be obvious, or apparent. Rationalization: Rationalization is the final process of a dream. At this stage of a dream, the mind is able to organize an incoherent dream into one piece that is logical, and comprehensible. Freud further denoted that this can also be referred to as secondary revision. Critique of the Freudian Theory of Dream: A number of scholars have criticized and disapproved the works of Freud in regard to dreams. For instance, Carl Jung did not agree with Sigmund Freud that dreams were a symbolic connotation for wishful thinking. In the view of Carl Jung, dreams were messages conveyed to the dreamer. On this basis, Carl Jung denotes that a dreamer must pay attention to the messages and contents of his or her dream. Carl Jung believes that dreams always bring revelations to the person dreaming, that can help him or her to overcome their religious, or even emotional problems (Jung, Hull and Shamdasani, 2010). On this basis therefore, the idea that dreams emanate from the unconscious mind is incorrect. In fact scholar denotes that Freud failed to denote how he came to know of the existence of the conscious and the unconscious mind. Freud further believes that dreams were shaped by the sexuality and sexual desires of an individual. Freud believed that man is a sexual being, and all aspects of his life are shaped by sex (Jung, Hull and Shamdasani, 2010). This view is wrong, and this is because there are other factors that shape the behavior of an individual, and this includes economic, politics, and even sports. On this basis, scholars denote that dreams could not occur as a result of an individual sexual desires and beliefs. Carl Jung denotes that memories formed an integral part in creating dreams. This is because they leave impressions for the unconscious mind to pick up, when an individual’s ego is at rest. On this basis, Carl Jung denotes that an individual’s experiences play a great role in the process of formulating dreams, and not some wishful thinking, or desires (Jung, Hull and Shamdasani, 2010). Modern Day Theories of Dreams: Due to the difficult nature of understanding this concept of dreaming, there are a series of modern research developed for purposes of understanding it. An example of a theoretical framework developed to understand dreams is the contemporary theory of dreams. From this theory, researchers denote that the process of dreaming is not random, but occurs because of the emotions of the person dreaming (Scientific American, 2014). On this basis, when the emotion of an individual is clear, then the meaning of his or her dreams is clear. Scholars further denote that when the emotion of an individual is frequent, then the dream under consideration will be frequent. On this basis, dreams is just a representation of an individual’s emotions through symbols and cryptic images (Scientific American, 2014). Conclusion: In conclusion, Sigmund Freud is one of the authors who has first written extensively on dreams. It is important to denote that theory of dreams advocated by Freud has a biological origin, however, it is psychological in real practice. Freud was able to explain how dreams reflect the desires and urges of people, but ones that are suppressed by the community. Most scholars denote that the focus of Freud’s theory of dreams was based on sexual desires and urges. However, this is not true. This is because other factors also cause dreams, and these factors include an individual’s selfishness, and aggressive drives. References: Bakan, D. (2004). Sigmund Freud and the Jewish mystical tradition. Mineola, N.Y.: Dover Publications. Freud, S., & Eder, M. D. (2001). On dreams. Mineola, N.Y.: Dover. Freud, S., & Lieberman, E. J. (2012). The letters of Sigmund Freud and Otto Rank: inside psychoanalysis. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. Jung, C. G., Hull, R. F., & Shamdasani, S. (2010). Dreams (2010 ed.). Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press. Peters, M., Olssen, M., & Lankshear, C. (2003). Futures of critical theory: dreams of difference. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield. Scientific American. (n.d.). Why do we dream?. Scientific American Global RSS. Retrieved April 7, 2014, from http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-do-we-dream/ Sharpe, M., & Faulkner, J. (2008). Understanding psychoanalysis. Stocksfield: Acumen. Wilson, E. (2003). Adorned in dreams: fashion and modernity ([Rev. ed.). New Brunswick, N.J.: Rutgers University Press. Read More