Monday, June 25, 2012

On Dreams....

During one of the psychology courses I attended in college, we were required to submit a mock-interview about our views on dreams.  There was a whole section on dream theory actually because it seems to be a topic that leaves explanations unsatisfactory for many.  This was the result of my interview....

Several different theories for why we dream are proposed. Answer the following questions and provide support for your answers. 


Why do you think we dream? 
Dreams are by-products of guilt and psychological scars from traumas/experiences we‘ve had. I think we dream because our inclinations about how we have dealt with our problems and fears remain unsatisfactory. This brings certain unresolved internal issues to the surface.  This goes equally for so-called "happy dreams" wherein our experiences appear to be fulfilling in some way.  I believe that even in those happiest moments we are guilty of something--letting go of someone/something, insecurities about our sexuality, not having enough time in our lives.

What meaning do dreams have in your life? They are the basis for most of my reflective thoughts. I tend to write from my imagination and dreams more than from my actual experiences. Nightmares tend to be extremely inspiring to write on because they deal with some amount of underlying fears. So their meaning tends to be that of inspiration and reflection of guilt and leads me to question if I am dealing with aspects of my life effectively.

Do you believe in dream interpretation? Yes. I believe that every part of a dream is symbolic of some form of unresolved issue within our psyche. I think that the very nature of objects in dreams signifies that we are attempting to personify our thoughts and impulses.

Do you believe that dreams can predict the future?Not in the actual prediction of future events, no.

Why or why not? Well, I think that dreams can give us incentives to try to change the outcomes of our present states. I do not believe in precognition, ESP, or anything that is outside of realms of proven physical science. But I believe that dreams can leave a lasting impression that influences perception. Immanuel Kant believed that such perception was intrinsic while John Locke argued that through experiences we learn to perceive. Perhaps in correlation to dreams, Kant’s theory holds more weight, although Locke is equally correct in that dreams can also be independent experiences.  Either way, however, neither view substantiates fortune-telling. 


Select one dream that you have had recently that you still remember with some detail and that you don't mind sharing. Then visit one or more of the popular dream interpretation websites which follow. Using their dream dictionaries, find out what your dream means according to the chosen site.  Describe briefly how these dream websites interpreted your dream and whether or not you agree with their interpretation. 
I haven’t had a dream that I can remember recently. However, one dream that has always stuck with me was about my mom. I can remember being in my apartment. I think that I was cooking or something. I heard a knock at the door so I went to answer it. I was shocked to see my mom standing at the door. It had been about 15 years since I had seen her and I assumed that she had long been deceased. I remember grabbing her and hugging her really tight and crying. She held me for a bit to calm me down. We moved from the doorway into the living room where she sat me down. She asked how I was. I thought about it for a second. “Better now” I said and smiled. I asked where she had been and did she realize that we all thought she was dead. She said, “Away. I’m sorry I had to put you through this, but I had to take care of some things.” I decided that this moment was blessed and I tried my best to not ruin it. We talked for a long time. I told her about everything she missed. We had a few drinks, we laughed, I smoked a cigarette with her. “I can’t believe you smoke,” she said, “I did my best to try and keep you from doing this.” I exhaled almost choking and managed a smile. We looked out across the grain of the sunset. We held our eyes there for awhile. Then, she looked at me and said that she had to go. I agreed even though inside myself I so wanted her to stay. I kissed and hugged her. “I love you, Mom” I said. She replied, “I know, Love. I love you too.” She hugged me back. Then she let go, smiled, and walked away. I watched her leave until I couldn’t see her anymore. Then I woke up. I could still feel her in the room with me. I began to cry for a little bit, because I knew it wasn’t real.

As far as the interpretation of this dream, most indications are that I have some unresolved issues with my mother. This is true. I can remember the day that she died. The morning that she took me to school, we had an argument about my attitude. I said some pretty mean things to her. She drove me to school, and neither of us said a word all the way there. I got out of the car upset, and even as I walked to the building, I wanted to turn around and tell her goodbye and that I loved her. I regretted never being able to tell her that. So the interpretation of this particular dream--and the symbols used--seemed highly relevant, but so do the similarities the interpretations share with other symbols. There is a handful of problems or emotional states that is used and repeated. But what that means is that certain symbols hold significance in our subconscious for a reason….although that connection is not clear.

 -J-

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