Is Freudian Dream Theory Still Valid?
It’s easy to take potshots at Freudian dream theory, but keep in mind this was the first attempt to systematically interpret dreams in modern science and it’s inspired the entire field of psychology. Several aspects of Freud’s theory still ring of truth – especially the observation that dreams are often pointedly embarrassing and hint at tabooed material close to the dreamer’s heart, rather than reflecting random nonsense. Dreams have meaning, and we can scientifically study this meaning-making. Also, his claim that dreams inter-splice long-term memories (childhood urges) with short-term memory (day residue) is a claim made by several current neuroscientists, pointing to the possibility that dreams have a role in learning. I will discuss more of the neuroscientific revival of Freudian thought in another post. But first, we will next look at Freud’s contemporary Carl Jung, another founding father of modern dream studies. Further reading: The Psychology of Dreams by Kelly Bulkeley. Inter
Related Questions
- Is FT rooted in any other theory of human development such as Birth Order Theory, Cognitive-Behavioral Theory, Freudian or Psychoanalytic Theory, Spiritualism, or any other known psychiatric method?
- What determines whether a model,theory, or Law is valid?
- Why are therapists so dependent on Freudian theory?
