How Freud Interprets Dreams

Freud can be considered a foundational figure in the theory of dreams. Born in Moravia and educated in Vienna, he gained inspiration from studying numerous clinical patients, leading him to discuss the formation of dreams. Throughout his life, he wrote many books related to dreams, such as "The Interpretation of Dreams," "Introductory Lectures on Psychoanalysis," and "On Dreams," among others. In "On Dreams," Freud pointed out that the function of dreams is to maintain sleep rather than influence it.

Freud discovered the significant role of psychological suggestion in the recovery of patients, which led him to propose the theories of consciousness and the unconscious. He believed that dreams serve to regulate the impressions generated by a person's experiences during the day, acting as a release of repressed desires and contributing to the formation of sleep. Freud divided the human psyche into the id, ego, and superego, with the id representing the most instinctive responses. Therefore, desires arise not only from bodily pleasures but are also influenced by other survival instincts and self-protective instincts.

Dreams represent the conflict between the ego and the id, making Freud view dreams as the desires of the id in conflict. According to Freud's theory, dreams originate from daytime residues, various bodily stimuli, childhood experiences, and the collective human experience. These experiences, combined with repressed desires, form the content of dreams. Dream content is divided into manifest and latent dreams, and dream interpretation involves imagining the dream's imagery, peeling away layers of superficial appearances to reveal its deeper meaning. Freud referred to the transformation of unconscious impulses disguised in latent dreams into the content of manifest dreams as the true process of dreaming.

Freud also proposed that dreaming serves the purpose of regulating the impact of daytime experiences on the sleeper and protecting sleep from disturbance. Dreaming allows for the continuation of sleep.

In the process of dream interpretation, the symbolic function can sometimes help the interpreter save a significant amount of time in analyzing dreams. Therefore, it is necessary for the interpreter to be familiar with various dream symbols, relevant information about the dreamer, and the circumstances preceding the dream. This comprehensive approach is crucial because a single dream may have multiple interpretations.