The analysis of dreams was central in demonstrating Freud's theory of mind and the power of unconscious forces. Many analysts informally comment that dreams no longer seem to hold the same centrality they had for analysts who were trained prior to the 1980s. This paper presents a brief study assessing whether there has been a change in the teaching of dreams in psychoanalytic institutes. Comparison of theoretical and clinical courses on dreams in 1980—1981 and 1998—1999 indicates that the actual number of hours devoted to teaching dreams has in fact decreased. However, there are indications that a renewal of interest in dreams may now be occurring, at least in some institutes. The relationship between views on the role of dreams and perspectives on psychoanalysis itself is discussed.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Ablon, S.L., & Herzog, J. (1980). Children's dreams reconsidered. Psychoanalytic Study of the Child35:179—217.
2.
Altman, L. (1975). The Dream in Psychoanalysis. New York: International Universities Press.
3.
Arlow, J., & Brenner, C. (1964). Dreams and the Structural Theory. In Psychoanalytic Concepts and Structural Theory. New York : International Universities Press, pp. 114—143.
4.
Cavenar, J., & Nash, J. (1976). The dream as a signal for termination. Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association24:425—436.
5.
De Monchaux, C. (1978). Dreaming and the organizing function of the ego . International Journal of Psycho-Analysis60:195—212.
6.
Erikson, E.H. (1954). The dream specimen in psychoanalysis. Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association2:5—56.
7.
Fisher, C. (1965). Psychoanalytic implications of recent research on sleep and dreaming. Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association13:271—303.
8.
Fosshage, J.L. (1983). The psychological function of dreams: A revised psychoanalytic perspective. Psychoanalysis and Contemporary Thought6:641—669.
9.
Freud, S. (1900). The interpretation of dreams. Standard Edition4/5.
10.
——— (1933) New introductory lectures on psychoanalysis: Revision of the theory of dreams. Standard Edition22:7—30.
11.
Gillman, R. (1987). A child analyzes a dream. Psychoanalytic Study of the Child42:263—273.
12.
Goldberger, M. (1989). On analysis of defense in dreams. Psychoanalytic Quarterly58:396—418.
13.
Greenberg, J. (IN PRESS). The analyst's participation: A new look. Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association.
14.
Greenberg, R., & Pearlman, C. (1975). A psychoanalytic dream continuum: The source and functions of dreams. International Review of Psycho-Analysis2:441—448.
15.
——— (1992). A research-based reconsideration of psychoanalytic theory. Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association40:531—550.
16.
Greenson, R. (1970). The exceptional position of the dream in psychoanalytic practice. Psychoanalytic Quarterly39:519—549.
17.
Hartmann, E. (1967). The Biology of Dreaming. Springfield, IL: Thomas.
18.
Hawkins, D. (1966). A review of psychoanalytic dream theory in light of recent psychophysiological studies of sleep and dreaming. British Journal of Medical Psychology39:85—104.
19.
——— (1994). Interpretations of dreams revised. Dreaming4:64—67.
20.
Hobson, A.J., & Mccarley, R.W. (1977). Brain as a dream state generator: An activation-synthesis hypothesis of the dream process. American Journal of Psychiatry134:1335—1348.
21.
Isakower, O. (1938). A contribution to the pathopsychology of phenomena of falling asleep. International Journal of Psycho-Analysis19:331—345.
22.
Kanzer, M. (1955). The communication function of the dream. International Journal of Psycho-Analysis36:260—266.
23.
Lansky, M. (1992). The screening function of post-traumatic nightmares . In Essential Papers on Dreams, ed. M. Lansky.New York: New York University Press, pp. 401—473.
24.
Lewin, B.D. (1948). Sleep, the mouth, and the dream screen. Psychoanalytic Quarterly11:419—434.
25.
——— (1948). Inferences from the dream screen. International Journal of Psycho-Analysis29:224—231.
26.
Mack, J. (1992). Toward a theory of nightmares. In Essential Papers on Dreams, ed. M. Lansky.New York: New York University Press, pp. 343—375.
27.
Myers, W. (1987). Work on countertransference facilitated by self-analysis of the analyst's dreams. In The Interpretation of Dreams in Clinical Work, ed. A. Rothstein.Madison, CT: International Universities Press, pp. 37—46.
28.
Nersessian, E. (1989). Review of A. Rothstein, ed., The Interpretation of Dreams in Clinical Work. International Journal of Psycho-Analysis70:736—738.
29.
Oremland, J. (1973). A specific dream during the termination phase of successful psychoanalyses. Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association21:285—302.
30.
Ornstein, P.H. (1987). On self-state dreams in the psychoanalytic treatment process. In The Interpretation of Dreams in Clinical Work, ed. A. Rothstein.Madison, CT : International Universities Press.
31.
Palombo, S. (1984). Deconstructing the manifest dream. Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association32:405—420.
32.
——— (1992). The Eros of dreaming. International Journal of Psycho-Analysis73:637—646.
33.
Pulver, S. (1987). The manifest dream in psychoanalysis: A clarification . Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association35:99—118.
34.
Reiser, M.G. (1985). Converging sectors of psychoanalysis and neuro-biology: Mutual challenges and opportunity. Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association33:11—34.
35.
——— (1990). Revising dream theory: Toward a balanced contemporary psychobiological model. In Memory in Mind and Brain. New York: Basic Books, pp. 175—200.
36.
Renik, O. (1981). Typical examination dreams, “superego dreams,” and traumatic dreams. Psychoanalytic Quarterly50:159—189.
37.
Saul, L. (1966). Embarrassment dreams of nakedness. International Journal of Psycho-Analysis47:552—558.
38.
Sedlak, V. (1997). Dream, space, and countertransference. International Journal of Psycho-Analysis78:295—305.
39.
Sharpe, E. (1937). Dream Analysis: A Practical Handbook in Psychoanalysis . London: Hogarth Press.
40.
Silber, A. (1983). A significant “dream within a dream.” Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association31:899—916.
41.
Solms, M. (1995). New findings on neurobiological organization of dreaming: Implications for psychoanalysis. Psychoanalytic Quarterly64:43—67.
42.
Stolorow, R. (1978). Themes in dreams: A brief contribution to therapeutic technique. International Journal of Psycho-Analysis53:473—475.
43.
Waldhorn, H.F. (1967). The place of the dream in clinical psychoanalysis. Kris Study Group Monograph 2. New York: International Universities Press.
44.
Wallerstein, R. (1998). The new American psychoanalysis. Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association46:1021—1041.
