Ego
Ego: In Freud's model, the conscious self that operates on the reality principle, balancing the id and superego. In dreams, the ego acts as a censor mechanism, masking unconscious content through symbols.
Related Terms
Id (Primal Self)
In Freud's structural model, the most primitive layer of personality. Operating on the pleasure principle, it houses basic drives like hunger, sexuality, and aggression. In dreams, the id's desires manifest symbolically.
Superego
The moral and ideal dimension of personality. Represents societal norms, conscience, and the ideal self. In dreams, authority figures, judgmental voices, or scenes of shame are manifestations of the superego.
Unconscious
The deep layer of the mind beyond conscious awareness, harboring repressed memories, impulses, and desires. According to Freud, dreams are the royal road to the unconscious.
Collective Unconscious
According to Jung's theory, a shared unconscious realm common to all humanity, independent of individual experience. It is the source of archetypal images and universal symbols.
Shadow
In Jungian psychology, the rejected, repressed dark side of personality. Appears in dreams as enemies, monsters, or unknown dark figures. Confronting the shadow is the beginning of the path to wholeness.
Anima and Animus
According to Jung, the feminine archetype within men (Anima) and the masculine archetype within women (Animus). They appear in dreams as mysterious figures of the opposite sex, symbolizing the quest for inner balance.