Sexual desire is a strong influence in our dreams. It's not that surprising that many dreams contain sexual images because sexual desire is such a powerful human drive. As a matter of fact, the presence and meaning of sexual images in dreams have been interpreted by many psychoanalysts and dream interpreters through the years.Sexual Images in Dreams during the 19th and early 20th Century
According to Freud, dreams are where repressed desires and wishes come to life, particularly sexual desires. Freud also theorized that dreams involving long objects such as cigars or knives are phallic while objects such as tunnels or caves or round fruit like melons symbolize the female genitalia. Based on Freudian Dream Theory, sexual images in dreams that are conveyed through such symbolic items represent the dreamer's unfulfilled sexual wishes. These interpretations were then used by Freud in psychotherapy.
Carl Jung was also a dream theorist and was a student of Freud. However, Carl Jung's Dream Theory states that dreams are the tools used by the unconscious to communicate with the conscious mind. Jung also theorized that dreams contain archetypes -- dream images that have similar meanings for all people. Archetyped sexual images in dreams have therefore similar interpretations for all people.
Sexual Images in Dreams during the second half of the 20th Century
Calvin S. Hall developed a dream theory in 1954 stating that the act of dreaming is a cognitive process. A dream was simply a single thought or a series of thoughts that happened during sleep. Dream images are visual representations of a dreamer's own conceptions. If one dreams of being sexually attacked by someone, it could serve as a warning to be cautious or simply represents the dreamer's fear of sexual assault.
Sexual Images in Dreams in the Contemporary Period
Today, dream theories have been formulated by contemporary psychoanalysts. These contemporary psychoanalysts disagree with Freud -- dreams don't simply refer to hidden desires that are sexual in nature; dreams are a product of a dreamer's entire personality. Sexual images in dreams according to many modern analysts simply refer to realistic views of a dreamer rather than on hidden fantasies that have sexual connotations.
Photo credit: Unique Snowflake
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9 comments:
Very interesting piece, I've been a fan of Jung and his theories/writing for many years, though I don't always have time to read as much as I would like to these days. But you've inspired me to find out more.
Interesting stuff there!
Freud's dream theories cracked me up, as they said more about Freud than anyone else. Even though we've "come a long way," we still know so little.
Interesting post. In my experience I have found there are Freudian cases, Jungian cases and others. More interesting is how one person can have parts of each. However, as a Zen practitioner I have discovered in my own consciousness how it can all just "melt" away to leave a state of nothing-ness, presence... a "here-and-now-ness"
A very interesting post. While I'm not very familiar with Freud or Jung, what I know of their theories are exceptionally interesting.
Interesting post, my first time to know it but it is a very make sense theory. Thanks for sharing
Best wishes
Susanno
This is all very interesting. I have been meaning to start a dream journal and will perhaps have one for you to analyze sometime.
Fascinating stuff. You draw these interpretations rather tightly. Have no way to verify via any known scientific measurement that I know of. But, from the standpoint of pure logic, the common sense element sure does add up.
I agree with Frued but not entirely. Dreams are not just focused on sexual repression. It's only a part of the whole aspects of man being repressed. I hope I make sense... Anyway, it was Frued who had first opened up my mind about who I am on earth.
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