Dream Analysis

The drem–“My dream started out as if I was walking around the mall, but it was empty. As I
started down the escalator, I encounter myself but younger. My younger self said why are you wasting time
coming down when you have done nothing but gone up but now your declining.  I feel as if my dream was telling me to get back to what I was trying to achieve and stop taking less from myself other and my surroundings. I believed that Carl Jung would say that my dream was
directing me to become whole through what Jung calls a dialogue between ego and the self. Where the self, attempts to reveal to the ego what it doesn’t know. This dialogue is analyzing recent memories, present difficulties and future solutions.”
If you Googled “dream analysis” or “dream theory,” the possible search hits are endless and would range from respectable, scientifically-based theories to the absolute … um … nonreputable. That is why I created this assignment. I want you to be able to decipher between
reputable and non-reputable theories (and sources), as well as critically evaluate a dream theory
to determine the pros and cons to this approach.
I have organized the paper instructions and provided the points available for each criterion under
two guidelines: Write Content and Follow Mechanics. Please read all of the instructions carefully
before beginning, and contact me if you have any questions or need clarification. I hope you
enjoy researching for and writing this paper.
GOALS
Practice distinguishing between manifest and latent content.
Accurately apply Freud’s theory of wish fulfillment to analyze a dream.
Turn a critical eye to Freud’s theory of wish fulfillment—whether you find it adequately analyzes a
dream or not.
Dream Analysis Paper Directions
85 points
If you are unable to recall a dream of your own, you may interview someone about his or her
dream, but make sure you are able to address all of the elements of the assignment. You may
NOT use the dream of someone else who is enrolled in this course or has taken this course.
Write Content
1. Select and describe a dream from the Sleep Journal Entry: Dream Analysis in Lesson 5.
Your description should provide detail about the following elements:10 points
Characters in the dream (e.g., people or pets)
Settings (e.g., home or school)
Time (e.g., in the past/present/future; duration of events in the dream)
Action (what actually took place in the dream)
Note places where you can’t recall details or transitions seem unclear (e.g., a dream starts in one
place and changes scene or characters).
2. Identify manifest and latent content in your selected dream.20 points
Using Freud’s theory of dreams, identify which aspects of the dream represent the manifest
content and which represent the latent content.
3. Discuss the dream according to Freud’s theory of dreams as wish fulfillment.10 points
Specifically, does some part of the dream content represent a wish or desire that has yet to be
fulfilled? If so, discuss that.
4. Translate manifest and latent content using the processes identified in the dream.10 points
Discuss which of Freud’s processes (symbolism, projection, displacement, condensation, and/or
rationalization) are present in the dream, and explain how each process is working to translate
the manifest content into latent content.
5. Evaluate the accuracy of Freud’s interpretation.20 points
Discuss whether or not you think Freud’s interpretation of your dream would be accurate. If not,
specify why you think so. Be sure to draw on course material to support your ideas. (“Because I
think so” will not suffice.)
If you think Freud’s interpretation would be accurate, say so, explain why, and state what part of the material resonates as true for you.
If you do not think Freud’s interpretation would be accurate, explain why, and state which theory
seems more plausible to you. You may address the theories discussed in Lesson 5 without
referencing specific names.
Follow Mechanics
Write a paper 3–5 pages in length. A thorough and concise analysis will be a minimum of 3
pages and no more than 5 pages, not including the title page noted in the Purdue Online Writing
Lab description.10 points
Use a narrative format. This means you should not give a bulleted list of the answers to the items
described in the previous instructions for writing content.
Pay particular attention to grammar and spelling—they will be part of your grade.
Include select elements of APA formatting 5 points
Margins: one-inch on all pages
Font: 12-point, Times New Roman, Arial, or Calibri
Spacing: double spaced
Page numbers: top right corner
Title Page: included