Learn all about Freud's dream theory. Understand what Freud believed about dreams, learn about his Psychoanalytic theory of dreams, and see its criticisms.
Updated: 02/24/2022
Freud's Psychoanalytic Theory of Dreams
What did Freud Believe About Dreams?
Sigmund Freud, an Austrian neurologist, established several influential psychological theories, including ideas related to the mental motivations behind dreams. Dreams are associated with the unconscious mind, which is one of Freud's foundational concepts. The unconscious mind includes underlying wishes, fears, and impulses that individuals may not be acutely aware of, yet these deep-seated thoughts significantly impact personality and behavior. Freud believed that dreams were the key to unlocking the unconscious; specifically, by analyzing dreams.
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Interestingly, the origination of Freud's dream theory stemmed from an actual dream of his own back in 1895. Freud had been holding himself responsible for his patient Irma's lack of progress in therapy, and was harboring guilty feelings. He dreamed that he analyzed Imra at a party; much to his relief, Freud discovered that her poor state was caused by a different doctor. This relief eased Freud's guilty feelings, thus leading him to interpret his dream as wish-fulfillment. The idea of wish-fulfillment centered around Freud's hope that he was not to blame for Irma's condition; subsequently, his dream satisfied that wish. Thus, according to Freud, a key purpose and function of dreams is to fulfill desires.
Dreams were significant within the development of Freud's psychoanalytic theory, which is a therapeutic discipline that encourages the free-flowing communication of a patient's thoughts and experiences. Dream interpretation provides a gateway to unconscious thoughts, uncovering the mind's deepest desires or problems that individuals are not completely unaware of. Per Freud, the revelation of unconscious thoughts via dreams allows individuals to gain insight and manage their issues.
The Meaning of Dreams
Have you ever heard the expression 'dream on' or 'only in my dreams'? Throughout history there have been many references to the dreams people have and what they mean. In the Bible, the Pharaoh had a reoccurring dream for two years as referred to in the book of Genesis. In Frankenstein (the famous novel by Mary Shelley), the character Frankenstein was inspired by a waking dream. Even Paul McCartney has referred to hearing the music for the hit song 'Yesterday' in a dream. Albert Einstein refers to a dream in discovering his principal of relativity. As you can see, dreams have been referred to quite often. But what does it all mean? What do those dreams at night stand for and where do they come from?
Sigmund Freud asked those same questions. Freud is considered today to be the father of psychoanalysis, a form of treatment for mental illness. Psychoanalysis is also a theory that explains human behavior. Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) lived and worked in Vienna for most of his life, moving there with his family when he was four years old.
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Freud's Theory of the Mind
Freud's theory of the mind revolves around the psychodynamic approach, which states that life experiences, especially from childhood, are significant within personality development. These experiences from early in life will continue to affect actions and emotions into adulthood. Personality creation is also prompted by conflicts between biological drives for the fulfillment of impulses, and the inclination to control such impulses. Freud explained that the personality evolves within the struggle to find a balance between these two elements, which are known as the id and the superego. The id represents the demanding element of personality, insisting on the instant fulfillment of urges even at the risk of unfavorable consequences. The superego functions as a moral compass, attempting to calm the id's impulses. Acting as the mediator, the ego is a third mind component that strives to resolve the ongoing friction between the id and the superego. The ego's goal is to create a compromise that reasonably satisfies the id's urges, allowing the fulfillment of impulses without generating guilty feelings.
Further into Freud's theory of the mind are three instances of awareness, known as the conscious, the preconscious, and the unconscious. The conscious mind contains the surface thoughts and ideas of which individuals remain fully aware, such as understandings pertaining to the self and environment. The preconscious consists of thoughts and memories that can be consciously accessed but are kept in the reserves of the mind. The unconscious mind includes the thoughts, memories, and desires that individuals are unaware of, yet remain influential on behavior. This part of the mind may include repressed or shameful thoughts. The interaction between these instances may help to reveal the causes of emotional distress or discover feelings that were previously buried deep inside of the mind. For example, a slip of the tongue, often referred to as a Freudian slip, may occur in the form of a misstatement that represents an underlying thought that suddenly surfaces to the conscious. Such slips might be verbal, or might materialize in the form of a dream.
Psychoanalytic Theory of Dreams
Freud conceptualized dreams by identifying and describing their main elements, which include manifest content and latent content. Manifest content refers to the recalled account of a dream, whereas latent content represents the symbolism behind a dream. Manifest content is often illustrated by visible images that are more acceptable versions of the mind's unconscious desires. Latent content consists of those underlying thoughts that have not been fulfilled, thus materializing as manifest content through a process known as dream work. Dream work serves to modify the mind's underlying latent wishes into the more agreeable manifest content, which allows for the reduction of stress. This manifestation transpires through several processes: Condensation, displacement, and secondary elaboration.
- Condensation: This process links two images or thoughts into a single idea. For instance, a dream about one woman could represent a combination of hostility toward a female boss and a wife.
- Displacement: This process occurs when an individual shifts their worries or ideas about one item or person into something different. For instance, work stress could appear in a dream as an individual struggling to lift a heavy rock.
- Secondary elaboration: This process involves the unconscious mind tying underlying wishes together in a coherent order, so as to create a more credible manifest content sequence. For instance, after waking, an individual may remember dream fragments and then attempt to piece them together to produce a sensible recollection.
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Criticisms of Freud's Theory of Dreams
Freud was somewhat of a controversial character whose theories endured ample criticism over the years. His dream theory was no exception, and faced arguments from psychologists and scholars. One key argument against Freud's dream theory is that it is unscientific and unable to be empirically tested. A dream is a problematic phenomenon to study, as the information gathered is dependent upon the truthfulness and recollection of the subject. The ideas derived from dream analysis, such as wish-fulfillment, are not supported by research, since it is impossible to prove these notions to be true or false.
An additional argument against Freud's dream theory is that much of its data and documentation are derived from case studies, which do not allow for a representative sample of a broader population. Interestingly, Freud mainly studied his own dreams, as well as those of select patients. Such a limited sample does not allow for the generalization of his theories to a wider variety of individuals.
Lesson Summary
Sigmund Freud presented several influential psychological theories, including ideas pertaining to dreams and dream analysis. Dreams are connected to the unconscious mind, which encompasses underlying wishes, fears, and impulses. Although individuals may not be fully aware of their unconscious thoughts, these underlying concepts affect personality and behavior. Freud's initial ideas on dreams materialized from his own dream about a patient that he was concerned about; subsequently, he formed his dream theory. Freud believed that dreams were the key to unlocking the unconscious mind. Also, he stated that dream interpretation must be associated with a patient's individual circumstances as opposed to universal dream symbols. Dream interpretation may be practiced during psychoanalysis, which is a therapeutic treatment for a variety of mental illnesses, as well as a way to explain human behavior.
Freud's psychodynamic approach includes the three aspects of the mind, which are the impulsive id, the mediating ego, and the moral superego. Further delving into Freud's theory of the mind are three instances of awareness, known as the conscious, the preconscious, and the unconscious. The conscious mind contains the surface thoughts and ideas of which individuals remain fully aware, the preconscious consists of thoughts and memories that can be consciously accessed, but are kept in the reserves of the mind, and the unconscious mind includes the thoughts, memories, and desires that individuals are unaware of, yet remain influential on behavior. The interaction between these instances may help to reveal unconscious feelings that were previously buried deep inside of the mind. Freud conceptualized dreams by identifying and describing their main elements, which include manifest content and latent content. Manifest content refers to the recalled account of a dream, whereas latent content represents the symbolism behind a dream. Dream work serves to modify the mind's underlying latent wishes into the more agreeable manifest content, which allows for the reduction of stress. This manifestation transpires through several processes: Condensation, displacement, and secondary elaboration. Although Freud's theories pertaining to dreams have been widely criticized as unscientific, his ideas remain an influential part of psychology.
The Mind
To understand Freud's ideas about dreams and where they come from, you first need insight into his understanding of the mind. According to Freud, there are three aspects of the mind. These areas are called the id, ego, and superego. Freud uses an iceberg to visualize these three aspects since they are not actual physical areas of the brain: like an iceberg, most of the contents of the brain are 'hidden' in the unconscious mind.
The id is the unconscious level of the mind. This area centers around the 'pleasure principal', which holds that we are gratified when our basic instincts or urges are satisfied. This is also where life and death instincts are located. Life instincts, or more commonly referred to as sexual instincts, refer to what is needed in order to create and sustain life, such as food and shelter. Death instincts refer to the drive that pushes a person towards death or self-destructive behaviors. These are the instincts that push people to commit acts of murder or bullying. The ego is developed during infancy out of the id. The ego's goal is to satisfy the urges and needs of the id in a safe and socially acceptable way. The ego is part of both the conscious and unconscious mind. Lastly, the superego develops in early childhood. This is what motivates us to behave in socially acceptable ways. The superego centers around morals.
Freud's Dream
Dreams, according to Freud, provide clues on how the unconscious mind works. Freud's dream analysis began with a personal dream that he had in July of 1895 about a patient named Irma. Irma was not responding to treatment as well as Freud had hoped. This created feelings of guilt. Freud had dreamed that he met Irma at a party and evaluated her. In his dream, he saw the chemical formula from a drug that was given to her by another doctor. He realized that Irma's condition was the result of a dirty syringe used by another doctor. Freud was relieved that Irma's condition was not his fault.
This dream led Freud to develop his theory of dream analysis. He proposed that all dreams are a form of wish-fulfillment of repressed wishes or the representation of wish-fulfillment. These repressed wishes are wants that have been denied and have become part of the unconscious mind. During a dream, the ego's defenses are down and the repressed material (or wishes) comes through to the conscious mind. In Freud's situation, he was feeling guilty about the lack of improvement in his patient. He felt that it was his fault. His dream fulfilled his wish that Irma's condition be someone else's fault, not his.
Dream Breakdown
There are three key aspects to Freud's dream analysis. The first is the manifest content. Manifest content is the part of the dream that the individual remembers. The manifest content is typically related to what happened in the individual's life that day. The second aspect of the dream is the latent content. The latent content is the symbolic meaning of the dream or the repressed wish. The process by which the latent content (the repressed wish) is transferred to the manifest content (the remembered part of the dream) brings us to the third aspect of a dream, called dream work. The purpose of dream work is to develop the forbidden wish into a non-threatening form so the individual can remain asleep.
Dream work includes three processes: condensation, displacement, and secondary elaboration. Condensation is the process of joining two ideas or images into one. Displacement is the process of transforming the object or person the dreaming individual is really concerned about into something else. Secondary elaboration occurs when the unconscious mind puts the wish-fulfilling images into a logical order.
In regards to universal dream symbols, Freud was very cautious. He did determine that there were some possibilities for universal symbols, such as poles, guns, and swords representing the penis. However, Freud felt that symbols in a dream are more personal, not universal. He believed that in order to interpret the content in a person's dream, you first need to understand the individual's specific circumstances.
Freudian Dream Critique
Some researchers have criticized Freud's dream analysis and theory. Freud's theory of dream work cannot be tested outside of a clinical setting, at least not in any real, meaningful way. Some also feel that there is not enough evidence to support the idea of wish-fulfillment due to dreams of punishment and anxiety. In addition, it is not possible to test the unconscious mind objectively. Freud's theory can only explain behavior, not predict it.
Other critiques note that Freud's research population is not representative of the larger population, as Freud studied only himself and his patients. Likewise, Freud's patients were typically limited to middle-aged women from Vienna, and he would often focus a case study on only one person.
Lesson Summary
Let's take a couple of moments to review what we've learned about Freud's dream psychology and analysis.
While there has been criticism of Freud's work, his contributions to the analysis of dreams were groundbreaking. Freud developed a frame for evaluating the mind and the drives that define human behavior, which he called psychoanalysis, which essentially is a form of therapy that treats mental illness. He defined three non-physical aspects of the mind: the id (or the unconscious mind that houses basic instincts), the ego (or the part of the mind that satisfies those instincts), and the superego (or the part that acts according to morals).
Freud felt that dreams were a pathway to the unconscious mind. He believed that through the analysis of dreams, we can gain some insight into a person's motivations and wishes. He analyzed both manifest content (or what people remember about their dreams) and latent content (the symbolic meaning of the dreams). This is what led to dream work, which Freud used to develop the forbidden wish into a non-threatening form so the individual can remain asleep. We also learned that dream work includes three processes: condensation or the process of joining two ideas or images into one; displacement, or the process of transforming the object or person the dreaming individual is really concerned about into something else; and secondary elaboration, which occurs when the unconscious mind puts the wish-fulfilling images into a logical order.
Even today, despite much of the legitimate criticism of his work, Sigmund Freud's work impacts research and practice in both psychology and more New Age methods of dream interpretation, leading many to flock to his work to look inside of their own sub-consciousness.
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Video Transcript
The Meaning of Dreams
Have you ever heard the expression 'dream on' or 'only in my dreams'? Throughout history there have been many references to the dreams people have and what they mean. In the Bible, the Pharaoh had a reoccurring dream for two years as referred to in the book of Genesis. In Frankenstein (the famous novel by Mary Shelley), the character Frankenstein was inspired by a waking dream. Even Paul McCartney has referred to hearing the music for the hit song 'Yesterday' in a dream. Albert Einstein refers to a dream in discovering his principal of relativity. As you can see, dreams have been referred to quite often. But what does it all mean? What do those dreams at night stand for and where do they come from?
Sigmund Freud asked those same questions. Freud is considered today to be the father of psychoanalysis, a form of treatment for mental illness. Psychoanalysis is also a theory that explains human behavior. Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) lived and worked in Vienna for most of his life, moving there with his family when he was four years old.
The Mind
To understand Freud's ideas about dreams and where they come from, you first need insight into his understanding of the mind. According to Freud, there are three aspects of the mind. These areas are called the id, ego, and superego. Freud uses an iceberg to visualize these three aspects since they are not actual physical areas of the brain: like an iceberg, most of the contents of the brain are 'hidden' in the unconscious mind.
The id is the unconscious level of the mind. This area centers around the 'pleasure principal', which holds that we are gratified when our basic instincts or urges are satisfied. This is also where life and death instincts are located. Life instincts, or more commonly referred to as sexual instincts, refer to what is needed in order to create and sustain life, such as food and shelter. Death instincts refer to the drive that pushes a person towards death or self-destructive behaviors. These are the instincts that push people to commit acts of murder or bullying. The ego is developed during infancy out of the id. The ego's goal is to satisfy the urges and needs of the id in a safe and socially acceptable way. The ego is part of both the conscious and unconscious mind. Lastly, the superego develops in early childhood. This is what motivates us to behave in socially acceptable ways. The superego centers around morals.
Freud's Dream
Dreams, according to Freud, provide clues on how the unconscious mind works. Freud's dream analysis began with a personal dream that he had in July of 1895 about a patient named Irma. Irma was not responding to treatment as well as Freud had hoped. This created feelings of guilt. Freud had dreamed that he met Irma at a party and evaluated her. In his dream, he saw the chemical formula from a drug that was given to her by another doctor. He realized that Irma's condition was the result of a dirty syringe used by another doctor. Freud was relieved that Irma's condition was not his fault.
This dream led Freud to develop his theory of dream analysis. He proposed that all dreams are a form of wish-fulfillment of repressed wishes or the representation of wish-fulfillment. These repressed wishes are wants that have been denied and have become part of the unconscious mind. During a dream, the ego's defenses are down and the repressed material (or wishes) comes through to the conscious mind. In Freud's situation, he was feeling guilty about the lack of improvement in his patient. He felt that it was his fault. His dream fulfilled his wish that Irma's condition be someone else's fault, not his.
Dream Breakdown
There are three key aspects to Freud's dream analysis. The first is the manifest content. Manifest content is the part of the dream that the individual remembers. The manifest content is typically related to what happened in the individual's life that day. The second aspect of the dream is the latent content. The latent content is the symbolic meaning of the dream or the repressed wish. The process by which the latent content (the repressed wish) is transferred to the manifest content (the remembered part of the dream) brings us to the third aspect of a dream, called dream work. The purpose of dream work is to develop the forbidden wish into a non-threatening form so the individual can remain asleep.
Dream work includes three processes: condensation, displacement, and secondary elaboration. Condensation is the process of joining two ideas or images into one. Displacement is the process of transforming the object or person the dreaming individual is really concerned about into something else. Secondary elaboration occurs when the unconscious mind puts the wish-fulfilling images into a logical order.
In regards to universal dream symbols, Freud was very cautious. He did determine that there were some possibilities for universal symbols, such as poles, guns, and swords representing the penis. However, Freud felt that symbols in a dream are more personal, not universal. He believed that in order to interpret the content in a person's dream, you first need to understand the individual's specific circumstances.
Freudian Dream Critique
Some researchers have criticized Freud's dream analysis and theory. Freud's theory of dream work cannot be tested outside of a clinical setting, at least not in any real, meaningful way. Some also feel that there is not enough evidence to support the idea of wish-fulfillment due to dreams of punishment and anxiety. In addition, it is not possible to test the unconscious mind objectively. Freud's theory can only explain behavior, not predict it.
Other critiques note that Freud's research population is not representative of the larger population, as Freud studied only himself and his patients. Likewise, Freud's patients were typically limited to middle-aged women from Vienna, and he would often focus a case study on only one person.
Lesson Summary
Let's take a couple of moments to review what we've learned about Freud's dream psychology and analysis.
While there has been criticism of Freud's work, his contributions to the analysis of dreams were groundbreaking. Freud developed a frame for evaluating the mind and the drives that define human behavior, which he called psychoanalysis, which essentially is a form of therapy that treats mental illness. He defined three non-physical aspects of the mind: the id (or the unconscious mind that houses basic instincts), the ego (or the part of the mind that satisfies those instincts), and the superego (or the part that acts according to morals).
Freud felt that dreams were a pathway to the unconscious mind. He believed that through the analysis of dreams, we can gain some insight into a person's motivations and wishes. He analyzed both manifest content (or what people remember about their dreams) and latent content (the symbolic meaning of the dreams). This is what led to dream work, which Freud used to develop the forbidden wish into a non-threatening form so the individual can remain asleep. We also learned that dream work includes three processes: condensation or the process of joining two ideas or images into one; displacement, or the process of transforming the object or person the dreaming individual is really concerned about into something else; and secondary elaboration, which occurs when the unconscious mind puts the wish-fulfilling images into a logical order.
Even today, despite much of the legitimate criticism of his work, Sigmund Freud's work impacts research and practice in both psychology and more New Age methods of dream interpretation, leading many to flock to his work to look inside of their own sub-consciousness.
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Jennifer B.
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Freud's Dream Theory & Analysis | What is the Psychoanalytic Theory of Dreams?
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