Sigmund Freud
Sigmund Freud: Pioneer of modern dream analysis. With 'The Interpretation of Dreams' (1900), he defined dreams as symbolic expressions of unconscious desires. Developed the free association method.
Related Terms
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.
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.
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.
Repression
A defense mechanism that pushes painful, unacceptable thoughts and memories into the unconscious. According to Freud, repressed content returns in dreams in symbolic disguises.
Free Association
A method developed by Freud, starting from a dream symbol and voicing all thoughts without censorship. Used to reveal unconscious associations.
Compensation
According to Jung, dreams function to balance our conscious attitudes. An overly optimistic person may have dark dreams; a timid person may dream of courage.