By: David H.
Submitted: 2009-10-12 17:29:10 | Word Count: 560
The beauty of one’s dream is behind the symbolic representation it. These symbolic and visual representations are explained in many theories of psychology. It is used to analyze, and interpret the hidden meaning of one’s dream.
There are so many theories about dreams. They try to explain analyze and interpret why such a dream occurred.
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Many prominent names in the field of psychology are the proponents of these theories. Some of these psychologists are Sigmund Freud also known as the father of psychoanalysis.
Alfred Adler coined the term inferiority complex. Calvin S. Hall and Ann Faraday also studied dreams. Their theories about dream analysis and dream interpretation led in the advancement of psychoanalysis and the field of psychology.
Freud’s Dream Theory
Sigmund Freud, the father of psychoanalysis, developed the theory entitled “The Interpretation of Dreams.” This theory is about the interaction of the three aspects of mind—the superego, the ego and the id.
The superego is the opposite of id which serves as the sensor or conscience of a person. The ego is the rational aspect of the person or mind. Last is the id, the earthly aspect of mind. It consists of egocentric desires of the person.
The id is restrained by the superego while the person is in conscious state or awake. That is why we can rationalize what we are doing. Meaning, the rational aspect of the mind or the so called ego is active. Then, the desires of id are stored in the subconscious of the person or mind.
However, the self centered desires of the mind called the id insist its way out in the form of symbolic representations or most of the time through dreams. It is because the superego of the mind is inactive while we are sleeping. It is the perfect time for the id to let out its subconscious desires.
Adler’s Dream Theory
The Dream Theory of Alfred Adler states that the dream is the outlet of our inferiority complex. The inferiority complex is the negative feelings of a person toward himself. These negative feelings are fears, feeling of imperfection, and insecurities. Dreaming is a of dealing with the inferiority complex of a person. In dreaming, the person could face his insecurities, fears, and imperfections which he could not handle in real life.
The dream analysis of Alfred Adler is through the discussion of certain parts of the dream and analyzing them to describe the inferiorities or problems they might stand for. After this, the possible solutions are discussed to eliminate or minimize the effects of these inferiorities or problems.
Hall’s Dream Theory
Calvin S. Hall states that dreaming is a cognitive process. The thought or sequence of thoughts while sleeping creates dream. According to Calvin S. Hall, the images the person sees in his dreams are the visual representations of his personal conceptions. One example is if the person has a socializing fear. He might dream of being attacked by a friend.
Faraday’s Dream Theory
Ann Faraday believes that dreams are the reflections of things a person has been thinking for past two or more days. Faraday also states that the dreams could also serve as warnings for some instance. One example is when a person dreams that he failed an examination. It may mean lack of preparations or lack of self examination.
