The Dream as Guardian of Sleep

The Interpretation of Dreams

This thread traces Freud's account of how dreams absorb bodily and external disturbances in order to preserve sleep.

increasing

Bearing strength in each event

decreasing

Stimuli Reach the Sleeper Stimuli Reach the Sleeper from "The Interpretation of Dreams". Stimuli Reach the Sleeper The outside world persists Sounds, light, pressure, temperature, and bodily discomfort can reach a sleeper.

Stimuli Reach the Sleeper from "The Interpretation of Dreams". Stimuli Reach the Sleeper The outside world persists Sounds, light, pressure, temperature, and bodily discomfort can reach a sleeper.

Stimuli Reach the Sleeper The outside world persists Sounds, light, pressure, temperature, and bodily discomfort can reach a sleeper. Earlier theories treat these intrusions as major causes of dreams. Several possible responses A sleeper may ignore a stimulus, wake, feel it without dreaming, or incorporate it into a dream.

A Bell Becomes a Scene A Bell Becomes a Scene from "The Interpretation of Dreams". A Bell Becomes a Scene A sound is transformed An alarm may appear as a church bell, sleigh bells, or breaking crockery within a dream.

A Bell Becomes a Scene from "The Interpretation of Dreams". A Bell Becomes a Scene A sound is transformed An alarm may appear as a church bell, sleigh bells, or breaking crockery within a dream.

A Bell Becomes a Scene A sound is transformed An alarm may appear as a church bell, sleigh bells, or breaking crockery within a dream. The stimulus enters a scene instead of ending sleep. Interpretation remains selective The external sound alone does not explain why the dream chooses a particular story.

The Wish to Keep Sleeping The Wish to Keep Sleeping from "The Interpretation of Dreams". The Wish to Keep Sleeping A protective response Freud proposes that a dream can reinterpret a stimulus in a way compatible with continued sleep.

The Wish to Keep Sleeping from "The Interpretation of Dreams". The Wish to Keep Sleeping A protective response Freud proposes that a dream can reinterpret a stimulus in a way compatible with continued sleep.

The Wish to Keep Sleeping A protective response Freud proposes that a dream can reinterpret a stimulus in a way compatible with continued sleep. The dream acts as a guardian rather than an enemy of sleep. A general function Dreams of drinking or remaining in bed show the wish to avoid waking for a bodily need.

The Boil and the Horse The Boil and the Horse from "The Interpretation of Dreams". The Boil and the Horse Pain translated into action Freud dreams of riding while a painful boil troubles him.

The Boil and the Horse from "The Interpretation of Dreams". The Boil and the Horse Pain translated into action Freud dreams of riding while a painful boil troubles him.

The Boil and the Horse Pain translated into action Freud dreams of riding while a painful boil troubles him. The dream's impossible activity denies the bodily condition and allows him to keep sleeping. A compromise response Pain supplies material; a wishful scene transforms it into something temporarily tolerable.

When the Dream Fails When the Dream Fails from "The Interpretation of Dreams". When the Dream Fails Disturbance overwhelms protection A dream may become so distressing that it wakes the sleeper.

When the Dream Fails from "The Interpretation of Dreams". When the Dream Fails Disturbance overwhelms protection A dream may become so distressing that it wakes the sleeper.

When the Dream Fails Disturbance overwhelms protection A dream may become so distressing that it wakes the sleeper. In such cases the compromise between unconscious wishes and the wish to sleep breaks down. A boundary case Anxiety dreams force Freud to qualify the theory without abandoning its central claim.

During Chapter I's review of dream sources

In the alarm-clock examples

After the discussion of convenience dreams

During Freud's example of painful stimulation

In the discussion of anxiety dreams