A reading of the first volume of Sigmund Freud's Introductory Lectures on Psychoanalysis (1916-17 [1915-17]), concentrating on the account of the technique for the interpretation of dreams. In these lectures Freud attempts to elaborate an empirical model for the investigation and explanation of the dream. Closer examination of this argument, however, quickly brings to light certain diffIculties that allow us to question whether the validity of psychoanalytic procedures could ever be sustained in these terms. It is suggested that this account requires the introduction of conditions and assumptions of another order. This argument amounts to a critique of the attempt to provide empirical foundations for certain key psychoanalytic concepts, in favour of a deduction of the validity of those concepts at the level of formal conditions of the technique of interpretation itself. It suggests that the legitimacy of that technique of interpretation depends upon a particular mode of deduction that can be considered characteristic of psychoanalytic procedure in general. The validity of the central concepts of psychoanalysis is then to be considered in terms of the procedure of argument from which their status is derived. Two models of psychoanalytic investigation are considered - an empirical model for the explanation of the dream and a more formal account of the fundamental principles of interpretation. The thesis concludes that these two models are not in fact exclusive but are rather complementary, and that a comprehensive statement of the conditions of validity of the technique of psychoanalytic interpretation can only be achieved through their interaction and articulation. At the same time it attempts to demonstrate that these issues have a fundamental influence upon our conception of the orientation and goals of that technique of interpretation.

Modern scholarship has generated several works on ancient Greco-Roman, Jewish or biblical oneirology, whereas it has never resulted in a book or monograph devoted solely to the study of patristic oneirology. Although many articles discuss the dreams in patristic texts, most of their authors do not analyse these dreams correctly in their doctrinal context, a context from which virtually all patristic dream narratives or discourses emerged. This thesis endeavours to remedy the deficiency in the construction of patristic views of dreams by a corresponding analytic approach. Numerous early Christian writers attempted to formulate a Christian dream theory, conceptualise dream phenomena, or interpret their own dreams or the dreams of prominent figures. This thesis argues that from their perspective, the nature of human-inspired dreams can be conceived of as creations of the soul, as indicators of the dreamer’s state and as moral reflection (Ch.1 to 3), that of demon-inspired dreams as demonic assault, temptation and deception (Ch.4) and finally that of divinely-inspired dreams as a site of epiphany, as divine messages and as the dynamic of faith reinforcement (Ch.5 to 7). In addition to investigating their thoughts on dreams, additional discussions of Greco-Roman, Jewish and biblical dream traditions will be provided as helpful references for readers to understand the background in which patristic oneirology was shaped and cultivated (Appendixes). Moreover, unlike pagan authors, these Christian writers did not elucidate dreams for oneirological, physiological or psychological purposes. Rather, their real agenda was to promulgate Christian doctrines, including the doctrines of man, asceticism, sin, demonology, God, Christology, revelation and eschatology. When they encountered dreams, they not only interpreted but doctrinalised them, just as they did to many other aspects of human life. Methodologically, they dogmatically expounded dreams so as to facilitate their dissemination of the doctrines. The making of patristic oneirology was essentially the propagation of dogmatics. Hermeneutically, they integrated doctrinal tenets into their explication of dreams. The doctrines defined the essence of dreams and even orientated their mission outside the dream world. Accordingly, their oneirological and doctrinal conceptions were intertwined and serve each other. This doctrinalised oneirology marked the birth of a new ideology of dreams in late antiquity. Hence, in each chapter the methodological and hermeneutical relationships between dreams and the related doctrine in patristic texts will be demonstrated. Due to these relationships, this thesis contends that the task of penetrating patristic views of dreams cannot be accomplished without analysing them in their doctrinal context; meanwhile, the doctrines cannot be fully represented without undertaking that task.

This study will endeavor to substantiate the theory that dreaming serves the function of trying to handle conflicts met by the individual during waking life, but not resolved at the time. In order to do this, several hypotheses will be advanced concerning the different observable content of dreams of two different populations. A relationship will be drawn between this difference in content and the known difference in the types of conflicts common to each of the populations.

English-language studies of Hermann Hesse have failed to adequately explore the role of dreams and visions in his major novels. This study attempts to summarize the present state of Hesse criticism in this area and to make a systematic study of the role of dreams and visions in each of his major novels.

M.A. (Clinical Psychology) / The theory on the interpretation of dreams is one of Freud's most important contributions to psychology. Unfortunately very little empirical research of Freudian dream theory has been done because of the difficulty in operationalizing Freudian concepts. In this study an attempt has been made to overcome this difficulty by introducing an empirical referent namely manifest dream content. The aim of this study is to indicate that there is a correspondence between personality types and manifest dream content ...

A cognitive-behavioral technique for developing dream control was examined. Twenty paid subjects were randomly assigned to either an attention-placebo control group or a cognitive-behavioral training group. Subjects met in the respective groups for a total of three hours of "training." Subjects in the actual training group were presented with a self-instruction sequence to practice and use in attempting to manipulate dream content. The control group subjects met to only discuss dreams and dreaming and were given no specific instruction in content control. After completion of the training, each subject individually spent two consecutive nights in a sleep laboratory. The first night of sleep served as an adaptation night, and the second night constituted the posttest portion of the experiment. Prior to going to sleep on the posttest night, all subjects were randomly assigned one of five possible topics to dream about throughout the night and were awakened during every REMP in order to provide a dream report. Eighty-one reports were obtained and given to two independent, "blind" judges for scoring. These judges were requested to match each report with the appropriate topic, evaluate the degree of control present, and rate each report on a measure of dream-like quality.

The present study explores the knowledge, attitudes, and opinions about dreams held by 394 high school, community college, and university students, and examines the interrelations among these students' responses to questions concerning such knowledge, attitudes, and opinions. A modified and extended form of George Domino's Questionnaire About Dreams (QAD) was used for obtaining a descriptive account of students' orientations toward dreams. Scales were developed for summarizing respondents' orientations toward dreams, and the reliability and validity of these scales was investigated. The reliability of scales for assessing respondents' attitudes, psychodynamic orientation, and to a lesser degree paranormal orientation was demonstrated. A reliable measure of factual knowledge about dreams was not demonstrated.

Thesis (M.A.)--OHio State University, 1973. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 60-67). Available online via OhioLINK's ETD Center

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Hong Kong, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis--Freiburg i. Br. / Includes bibliographical references (p. [277]-281).