Of “sleep and dream: A psychoanalytic essay' by Joyce McDougall (discussion)
International Forum of Psychoanalysis October 1, 1993 DOI: 10.1080/08037069308410995 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that dreams are creative metaphorical representations of the dreamer's subjective state rather than regressive or disguised wish-fulfilment, arising from motivational sources mobilized by efforts against inner and outer constraints and concerned with connectedness to self and others. Proposes distinguishing a phenomenological approach from one using metapsychological theory as a superimposed template, and emphasizes amplifying the dream's recent emotional context, imagery specificity, and associative matrix in clinical work. |
Abstract
An alternative view of the nature of dreaming consciousness is presented that differs from that of Dr. McDougall in three important ways. The dream is not regarded as the result of a return to a regressive state. It is a highly creative metaphorical representation of the subjective state of the dreamer. The dreamer is involved in a self-confrontational act that is revelatory rather than disguised. Secondly, the dream is the result of the interplay of motivational sources that go beyond wish-fulfilment and that are mobilized by the effort to move against inner and outer constraints. Finally, dream content is concerned with issues of connectedness to the self and others. A distinction is drawn between an approach based solely on the basic phenomenological features of dreaming consciousness namely, the linkage of present and past subjective residues of experience and an approach in which metapsychological theory is used as a superimposed template in arriving at the meaning of dream imagery. The implications of this point of view are explored in connection with the clinical material presented by Dr. McDougall, A greater emphasis is placed on amplifying the recent emotional context of the dream, the specificity of the dream imagery and the dialogue needed to develop as fully as possible the associative matrix of the dream.