A Late Confirmation? Review of C. G. Jung’s Understanding of Dreams in the Light of Modern Dream Research

Abstract

The publication of Sigmund Freud’s The Interpretation of Dreams (1900/2000) marked the birth of psychoanalysis in the public consciousness. Since then, therapeutic work with dreams has formed a central element for the practice and teaching of all schools in the tradition of psychoanalysis and depth psychology. Nevertheless, it is precisely this core element of work with unconscious contents that has faced massive opposition from scientifically oriented dream research in recent decades. Originally proposed in the 1970s, Allan Hobson’s (2002) paradigm of dreams as simply a meaningless epiphenomenon of matter has held currency. But in recent years, a fundamental change has taken place in the scientific mainstream. With the discovery of the default mode network, the emergence of the continuity hypothesis of dreaming and a new understanding of the phenomenon of consciousness, current dream research is approaching positions that seemed unthinkable before the turn of the millennium. In particular, C. G. Jung’s understanding of the dream proves to be surprisingly adaptable to this new view. This paper gives an overview of the development of the understanding of dreams and shows the points of connection with analytical psychology on the basis of the current hypotheses of dream research. These give reason to represent therapeutic work with dreams in teaching and practice with greater confidence.