Do dreams inform us about our personalities, sexual preferences, fears, potential etc?
2006-08-31 23:32:14 · 8 answers · asked by Okker 2 in Social Science ➔ Psychology
Well, the theories of Hall, Freud and Jung are based on research (and they support that claim). However, those theories are under continuous debate. Generally speaking there's no consensus in scientific community about this matter, and there is research evidence pointing to both directions.
Taken from the FAQ of The International Association for the Study of Dreams, answering question "Do dreams have meaning?" :
"Although scientists continue to debate this issue, most people who work with their dreams, either by themselves or with others, find that their dreams are very meaningful for them. Dreams are useful in learning more about the dreamer's feelings, thoughts, behavior, motives, and values. Many find that dreams can help them solve problems. Further, artists, writers, and scientists often get creative ideas from dreams."
2006-09-01 00:58:04 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The main psychological figure for dream analysis is Sigmund Freud, who believed that dreams are the "royal road to the unconscious", meaning that dream content reflects our unconscious desires, fears etc). He suggested that the unconscious material is symbolised in dreams so as to distort it, which enables us to "act out" our unconscious desires etc without having to consciously acknowledge them - we can just talk about this "weird dream" we had. Freud believed that certain symbols had shared meanings, and this is what dream analysis books reflect - the idea that if several people dream about their teeth falling out it means the same thing for them all - I disagree with this idea, I think that the meaning is quite personal. I have analysed people's dreams before, but it helps to know something about the person and what is going on for them at that particular time in life, as the dream will be a reflection of their unresolved conflicts. It's not a scientific process, and cannot be proven, but it's fun!
2006-08-31 23:54:56 · answer #2 · answered by imamonkeyoohaooha 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No No No. Dreams have no meaning although people wanting to make money out of so called dream interpretation books seem to think they have a special gift to analyse them. Researchers wiring people up have got nowhere with the subject really. There is no great mystery surrounding dreams.
2006-08-31 23:45:14 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Primarily that the meaning of each person's dreams is unique to them. Freud's attempt to put universal labels on particular dream objects is false.
I suspect that a person who is in counselling dreams in a way that works with their counsellor's theoretical orientation e.g. a person working with a Gestalt therapist will create dreams that they can learn from when Gestalted.
2006-09-01 03:37:40 · answer #4 · answered by MBK 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
from what i understant the dreams that we have at night time are the collective memorys that oar mind has built up over the day. and these dreams our mind is trying to sort out the jumble. this information could include visual and emotional memories. that's all i got.
2006-08-31 23:40:34 · answer #5 · answered by declan h 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
dream keeps oneself on toes, and about our inner self too.
2006-09-02 19:10:02 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its all about what you belive ,some belive in dreams and others do not.
2006-09-01 00:30:22 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
its all a load of bollocks
2006-08-31 23:37:41 · answer #8 · answered by GRUMPY /UK 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋