Therapy - Dream Analysis

Question 1

Dreamwork Processes

Answer 1

-Condensation
-Displacement
-Representation
-Symbolism
-Secondary elaboration

Question 2

Condensation

Answer 2

Thoughts condensed into brief images that stands for associations and ideas.

Question 3

Displacement

Answer 3

Concept of a ‘censor’ that prevents disturbing thoughts

Question 4

Representation

Answer 4

A thought translated into visual images

Question 5

Symbolism

Answer 5

Symbol replaces action,person, idea

Question 6

Secondary elaboration

Answer 6

Unconscious mind collects the different images, ties then together to form a logical story - disguising the latent content

Question 7

Psychodynamic assumptions (unconscious mind) applied to dream analysis

Answer 7

-make the ‘unconscious conscious’ , gain insight so it can be cured
-establishing whether repression is causing illness

Question 8

Psychodynamic assumption (influence of childhood experiences) applied to dream analysis

Answer 8

-Traumatic memories buried in the unconscious may surface during dreams.

Question 9

Psychodynamic assumption (tripartate personality) applied to dream analysis

Answer 9

• ego would usually block out the unacceptable desires of the id, ego defences would be in operation.
  -During dreaming, ego defences are low

Question 10

Main components of dream analysis

Answer 10

• Developed by Freud - rocess of assigning meaning to dreams as unconscious mind expresses itself through dreams and that content can reveal what is in their unconscious.
• Dreams as wish fulfilment
• The symbolic nature of dreams
• Dreamwork
• Role of the therapist

Question 11

Role of therapist

Answer 11

• Reverse the dreamwork process
• decode manifest content into latent content
• should suggest various interpretations based on patient’s feedback and knowledge of their life experiences - allowing patient to select those that make sense

Question 12

Evaluation - Research evidence (strengths)

Answer 12

• Solms used PET scans to highlight parts of the brain that are active during dreaming.
• Rational part of the brain (ego) , inactive during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep
• Memory and motivational parts, very active (supports that unconscious driven parts,id, expresses itself.

Question 13

Evaluation - Methodological issues (weakness)

Answer 13

• Ecological validity can be questioned:
• conducted in sleep labs
• patient wired up with electrodes
• not the same as under normal conditions

Question 14

Evalutation -research evidence (strength)

Answer 14

• Hopfield et al -research on neural networks
• used computer simulations to mimic action of the brain
• discovered neural networks deal with an overloaded memory by condensing memories. (supports condensation,displacement,censor,symbolism theory)

Question 15

Evaluation - Subjective interpretation (weakness)

Answer 15

• manifest content decoded by therapist, can be interpretated differently.
• It is a subjective report of the dreamer, may not be reliable
• Highly subjective process, going against the objective scientific aims of psychology

Question 16

Evaluation - Ethical Issues

Answer 16

> Therapist-client relationship
False memory syndrome (FMS)
Emotional Harm

Question 17

Evaluation - Ethical Issues : Therapist-client relationship

Answer 17

• Therapist takes expert role - patient is reliant on them —> can create power imbalance + over-dependence on the therapist
• people with depression - have a tendency to over-rely on important people

Question 18

Evaluation - ethical issues :
False memory syndrome

Answer 18

• Person’s identity and relationship are affected by false memories of traumatic experiences. - can appear when therapist uncover past traumatic events
• Toon et al -Therapist induce false memories —> treatment lasts longer = more financial gain
• Can experience anxiety

Question 19

Evaluation - Ethical Issues:
Emotional Harm

Answer 19

Therapist may guide a client towards an insight or interpretation that can be emotionally distressing.

Question 20

Dreams as wish fulfilment

Answer 20

• Freud believed that all dreams were the unconscious fulfilment of wishes that could not be satisfied in the conscious mind
• Dream protects the sleeper, also allow some expression of buried thoughts

Question 21

The symbolic nature of dreams

Answer 21

• contents are expressed symbolically
• real meaning of dream (latent content) is transformed into manifest content - meaningless but therapist can interpret the symbols
• Have to consider the symbols in context of a person’s life

Question 22

Dreamwork

Answer 22

• Latent content is transformed into manifest content through the process of dreamwork
• processes