Have you ever searched the Internet for dog dream interpretation, snake dream interpretation, or any other dream interpretation? Dreaming is one of the everyday events in our life. The dreams we see may be mysterious, exciting, or even terrifying; sometimes, it isn’t apparent to understand their meaning. In these situations, we take refuge in dream interpretation and look for the dream we have seen, but how much scientific basis does dream interpretation have? In this article, we talk about different theories of dream interpretation and solutions to find the meaning of dreams. Stay with us.
Four theories about Dream Interpretation
1. Freud’s theory; Dreams are a way to the subconscious mind
Sigmund Freud said in the book “The Interpretation of Dreams” that the content of the dreams we see is related to the fulfillment of our wishes. According to Freud, the dreams we see represent what we wish for in life.
Sigmund Freud was a prolific writer who published over 320 books and articles. Among his collection of works, Freud introduced the book “The Interpretation of Dreams” as his favorite work. This book is considered a unique and classic work in the history of psychology. This dream interpretation book has become famous because it introduces many of Freud’s ideas, including the concept of the unconscious mind and how it relates to dream interpretation.
During his research on the importance of sleep, Freud noticed the effect of sleep on his patients, especially psychotic patients who had hallucinations similar to their dreams. Freud concluded with these observations that the plans we see represent our unfulfilled desires.
Freud’s book significantly impacted psychology, but not all his ideas were accepted then or now. Despite this book’s fluent and attractive prose, the lack of scientific accuracy is visible throughout the book, and many of Freud’s conclusions lack empirical support. For example, Freud believed that our dreams are a way to gain insight into the unconscious mind.
Although Freud believed that dreams are a way to express desires and the subconscious mind, today, researchers believe that the dreams we see are a way to consolidate memory and learning. According to researchers, dreams’ fragmented and confusing content may be the brain’s technique for incorporating new information and experiences into long-term memory.
2. Jung’s theory; Archetypes and the collective unconscious
Carl Jung’s approach is somewhat similar to Freud’s theory, except that he believed the dreams we see have a purpose beyond expressing repressed wishes. According to Jung, dreams reveal both the personal and the collective unconscious, and he thought that the goals we see explore the underdeveloped parts of our minds.
According to Jung, archetypes such as “anima,” “shadow,” “animus,” and “persona” usually appear as symbolic objects or forms in dreams. He believed that these symbols represent attitudes suppressed by the conscious mind.
Unlike Freud, who said that certain symbols represent specific unconscious thoughts, Jung believed that dreams could be very personal and their interpretation requires knowing much about the dreamer.
3. Hall theory; Dreams as a kind of cognitive process
Calvin S. Hall analyzed thousands of dreams, looking for themes and patterns, and eventually devised a coding system that divided what is in our dreams into categories. According to Hall’s theory, dream interpretation requires knowing the following:
- actions of the person in the plan;
- objects in the program;
- Interaction between the owner of the dream and the characters he saw in the plan.
The ultimate goal of this dream interpretation is not to understand the dream but to understand the owner of the invention. According to Hall’s research, people’s characteristics in waking life are the same as their goals.
4. Damhoff’s theory; Dreams are a reflection of waking life
According to Damhoff, the dreams we see reflect the thoughts and concerns of our waking life.
The popularity of dream interpretation
When most people have a meaningful dream, they seek its meaning. According to the researchers, people want to interpret their goals in a way that agrees with their beliefs about themselves, the world, and the people around them. Researchers have found that confirmation and self-serving bias may affect how people react to their dreams.
Some people take their dreams very seriously, so if they dream they didn’t get a good grade on a test, they may be less motivated to study or even have so much test stress that it undermines their performance.
While some dreams may have a specific meaning or interpretation, others are meaningless; Despite this, dream interpretation has become a popular pastime.
Tips about dream interpretation
1. Write down your dream as soon as you wake up
According to Jessie Lyons, consultant, and psychotherapist, we forget most of our dreams because when we wake up, we start doing our daily tasks without thinking about our plans. If you write down your dream as soon as you wake up, you can find its meaning.
Leave a notebook and pen next to the bed, and as soon as you wake up, write down your dream with all the details you remember. By doing this repeatedly, you will remember your goals more quickly.
2. Think about the possible meanings of your dreams
Remembering the dream you had is only one step in this process. The next step is to think about the importance of sleep. You can use tools such as dream interpretation books or a quick search on the Internet to find the purpose of your dream.
3. Get help from a therapist if needed
According to Jesse Lyon, sometimes our dreams reveal mental health problems or even underlying medical problems. Sleep disturbances and bad dreams may be associated with mental health problems. For example, nightmares may be a symptom of PTSD, or issues such as depression and anxiety can cause us always to have bad dreams.
Sometimes bad dreams make people afraid to sleep. Because of this, they postpone sleeping at night and wake up feeling tired the following day. This fatigue may increase the possibility of having bad dreams, and lack of sleep also affects mental health. With the weakening of mental health, the possibility of having bad dreams increases, and this may turn into a vicious circle over time, which is very difficult to break.
If you keep having bad dreams or can’t sleep well, see a therapist to get to the root of the problem and start the treatment process.
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Are you constantly looking for the interpretation of your dreams? What dreams do you see the most? Please share your valuable comments and experiences with us and our dear users.
Warning! This article is only for educational purposes; to use it, it is necessary to consult a doctor or specialist.
