Chapter Commentary of The Interpretation of Dreams - Study Guide by Sigmund Freud

three rough groups of theories:

(1) Theories which argue that the psychic activity of the waking state is maintained whilst dreaming. However differences are found between the conditions of the waking and sleeping state, which account for the differences in functioning of the psyche under these two states. Advocates of this are Delboeuf (2) Theories which argue that dreams are an expression of psychic activity paralysed by sleep. In other words dreams are an incomplete waking state. These theories though, assign no real function to dreams, describing them as by products of physical, somatic processes, and reactions to stimuli (the sources of which are given previously). (3) Theories which argue that dreams are the result of special psychic activity, and as such represent the uninhibited, natural activity of the mind. However, advocates, like Scherner are unable to attribute a useful function to the symbolisation of phantasy in dreams.

Freud concludes that an explanation of dream life and its functions must lie somewhere between these extremes of Scherner and his phantastical representations, and the medical theory citing dreams as by products of somatic nocturnal processes.

H. The relation between dreams and Mental diseases

Freud discusses the role of dreams in relation to mental illness, focusing on the inner relations between dreams and psychoses and analogies which point to an intimate relationship. Freud discusses statements by many authors, most of the opinion that "insanity, an abnormal morbid phenomenon, is to be regarded as an enhancement of the periodically recurring normal dream state". Shared sources of aetiology between dreams and insanity have been suggested, such as organically conditioned sensations. However Freud concludes that whilst there is undeniable agreement between dreams and mental derangement, this can only be used to support the medical theory of dream-life. To explain dreams in terms of psychic abnormalities is impossible due to limited understanding of the psyche and its abnormalities, however he does acknowledge that given their close relationship it is likely that developments in one area should assist the other.

II. THE METHOD OF INTERPRETING DREAMS - AN ANALYSIS OF A SPECIMEN DREAM

Freud examines two methods employed by lay people in amateur interpretations of dreams. (1) 'Symbolic dream interpreting' which replaces the content of the dream as a whole with another, intelligible context, often analogous to the original one – e.g. Pharaoh's dreams of seven fat and seven thin cows in the bible. (2) 'Decoding dream interpreting', where each sign in a dream can be translated into another sign with a known meaning, in accordance with a fixed key (however the key varies in accordance with the dreamer and his circumstances) – a good example being the book by Artemidorus of Daldis.

Freud rejects both of these procedures, for his scientific treatment of dreams. He then describes one of his own dreams and subjects it to his methods of interpretation, the basis of which involved following and noting trains of thought leading from various events or items in the dream.

THE DREAM OF IRMA'S INJECTION

"I saw Irma and said to her 'if you still get pains, its really your own fault'. Yet she looked pale and puffy, so I thought I may be missing some organic trouble, on examination I saw extensive whitish grey scabs and at once called in Dr M who repeated and confirmed this. My frined Otto was now standing with us, along with my friend Leopold. M said 'there is no doubt it is an infection, but no matter; dysentry will supervene and the toxnl will be eliminated'. There was no doubt too, that this infection has\d originated from Otto giving Irma an injection of propyl, propyls….proprionic acid….trimetylamin (the formula for this in printed type). The syringe had probably not been clean.

He concludes from various themes which he is able to identify – i.e. Irma was a real patient, and the dream acquitted him of the responsibility for her condition by showing that it was due to other factors. Thus the dream was the fulfillment of a wish, and hence Freud concludes that far from being by products of nocturnal brain activity, dreams often represent the fulfillment of a wish.

III. THE DREAM AS WISH-FULFILMENT

Freud attempts to determine, whether dreams are only wish-fulfillment, or whether they can also be a fulfillment of fear, or other reflections such as simple memories. Freud cites numerous examples of dreams which can be seen to be wish-fulfillment. To investigate this further Freud uses the dreams of (his own) children as the simplest forms available, proposing that by addressing data in its crudest, most simple form it will be easier to analyse the frameworks behind them. He found that a large proportion of their dreams were pure wish-fulfillments, and at a later date added that children too were subjected to sexual instinctual forces, expressed in dreams, with the other of the two great vital instincts – for food (and water).


IV. DISTORTION IN DREAMS

Freud now addresses the issue that pain and disgust are more frequent in our dreams than pleasure (Weed & Hallam report 58% and 28.6% respectively) – therefore they cannot all be simple representations of wish-fulfillment. He contends that the thought-content behind the more obvious dream-content, of even the most painful and terrifying dreams can prove to be wish-fulfillment, and then addresses the