Dream

Dreaming is the subjective experience of remembered and imaginary images, sounds/voices, words, thoughts or sensations during sleep, usually involuntarily. The scientific discipline of dream research is oneirology. Dreaming has been associated with rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, a lighter form of sleep that occurs during the latter portion of the sleep cycle, characterized by rapid horizontal eye movements, stimulation of the pons, increased respiratory and heart rate, and temporary paralysis of the body. However, this association has been questioned since it may be that dream recall after REM sleep is common and because dreams are more easily recalled after waking from light REM sleep.

Psychodynamic interpretation of dreams

In his book, "The Interpretation of Dreams", Sigmund Freud argued that dream content was unconscious "wish fulfilment." These desires came from the "id," the childlike portion of the unconscious, and as such often contained material that would be unacceptable to the ego. For this reason, dreams were often disguised, and only by understanding the symbolism of the dream can you discover the true meaning. Freud used dream interpretation often to treat his patients, and called dreams "The royal road to the unconscious".

Related Topics:
The Interpretation of Dreams - Sigmund Freud - Id - Ego

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Critics would point out that this hypothesis cannot explain nightmares, though many case studies, such as the Rat Man, show this method to be successful.

Related Topics:
Nightmares - Rat Man

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~