The History of The History of Dream Dream

InterpretationInterpretationPsychology 5060Psychology 5060

Jamie Wilson, M.S.Jamie Wilson, M.S.

Common Themes in Ancient Common Themes in Ancient Dream InterpretationDream Interpretation

Dreams originated outside the dreamer Dreams originated outside the dreamer typically from a higher powertypically from a higher power

The future was fated and could be told The future was fated and could be told in dreamsin dreams

The ancient cultures were all profoundly The ancient cultures were all profoundly convinced of the significance in dreamsconvinced of the significance in dreams

Dream interpretation influenced the Dream interpretation influenced the most serious of all personal, political, most serious of all personal, political, and economic decisionsand economic decisions

They developed:They developed: Methods to distinguish good from evil Methods to distinguish good from evil

dreamsdreams Rituals for preparing dreamers to receive Rituals for preparing dreamers to receive

good dreams as well as rituals to ward good dreams as well as rituals to ward off evil dreamingoff evil dreaming

Dictionaries for interpreting dream Dictionaries for interpreting dream symbols symbols

Designations of who could interpret Designations of who could interpret dreamsdreams

Mesopotamians Mesopotamians Around 3000 B.C.Around 3000 B.C. The Sumerians, the first cultural group to The Sumerians, the first cultural group to

reside in Mesopotamia, left dream records reside in Mesopotamia, left dream records dating back to 3100 B.C. dating back to 3100 B.C.

According to these early writings, deities According to these early writings, deities and royals, such as the 7th century B.C. and royals, such as the 7th century B.C. scholar-king Assurbanipal, gave careful scholar-king Assurbanipal, gave careful attention to dreams (e.g., King Gilgamesh). attention to dreams (e.g., King Gilgamesh).

Three types of early dreams:Three types of early dreams: Message DreamsMessage Dreams Mantic Dreams Mantic Dreams Symbolic DreamsSymbolic Dreams

EgyptiansEgyptians They interpreted dreams They interpreted dreams

as being messages from as being messages from the godsthe gods

Egyptian dream books Egyptian dream books from about 2000 B.C. from about 2000 B.C. listed types of dreams listed types of dreams and suggested what each and suggested what each type meant for the future type meant for the future of the dreamerof the dreamer

Serapis was the Egyptian Serapis was the Egyptian god of dreams and god of dreams and serapims were dream serapims were dream temples where people temples where people went to have dreams went to have dreams inducedinduced

GreeksGreeks

Earliest Greek view was that a god made a visit during a dreamEarliest Greek view was that a god made a visit during a dream They also thought that sleeping in special temples and going through They also thought that sleeping in special temples and going through

elaborate rituals allowed people to gain access to dreams that elaborate rituals allowed people to gain access to dreams that foretold the future or prescribed cures for illnesses (e.g., Aesclepius foretold the future or prescribed cures for illnesses (e.g., Aesclepius at Epidaurus)at Epidaurus)

HippocratesHippocrates During the day, the soul receives images; during the night, it produces During the day, the soul receives images; during the night, it produces

images. Therefore, we dream. images. Therefore, we dream. Plato Plato

Thought that our reasoning ability was suspended during sleep Thought that our reasoning ability was suspended during sleep Aristotle Aristotle

Dreams could be indicators of conditions within the body. He did not Dreams could be indicators of conditions within the body. He did not believe they were divinely inspired. believe they were divinely inspired.

100 A.D. -- Artemidorus wrote 100 A.D. -- Artemidorus wrote OneirocriticaOneirocritica (The Interpretation of (The Interpretation of Dreams) which can be considered the great-grandfather of all dream Dreams) which can be considered the great-grandfather of all dream booksbooks He presented a taxonomy of dreams and urged flexibility in dream He presented a taxonomy of dreams and urged flexibility in dream

interpretation for the individualinterpretation for the individual

RomansRomans Generally, influenced by the Greeks and had Generally, influenced by the Greeks and had

several shrines for dream incubationseveral shrines for dream incubation Emperor Augustus ruled that anyone who Emperor Augustus ruled that anyone who

had a dream about the state must proclaim it had a dream about the state must proclaim it in the market place. in the market place.

Every Roman Legion had a soothsayer to try Every Roman Legion had a soothsayer to try and make sense of 'nocturnal visions'.and make sense of 'nocturnal visions'.

Cicero believed that dreams were not from Cicero believed that dreams were not from the gods (similar to Aristotle)the gods (similar to Aristotle) If they really were from the gods then why didn’t If they really were from the gods then why didn’t

the gods send the messages when people were the gods send the messages when people were awake and better able to receive information?awake and better able to receive information?

Religious Writings Religious Writings of Ancient Timesof Ancient Times

Babylonian Talmud, compiled between 200 Babylonian Talmud, compiled between 200 B.C. and 200 A.D., had 270 references to B.C. and 200 A.D., had 270 references to dreamsdreams Most quoted saying from the Talmud is from Most quoted saying from the Talmud is from

Rabbi Hisda who said, “An uninterpreted Rabbi Hisda who said, “An uninterpreted dream is like an unread letter.”dream is like an unread letter.”

Old and New Testaments of the Bible have Old and New Testaments of the Bible have many accounts of the work of dream many accounts of the work of dream interpreters in decoding prophetic dreamsinterpreters in decoding prophetic dreams E.g., Joseph interpreted the Pharaoh’s dream E.g., Joseph interpreted the Pharaoh’s dream

of the seven fat cattle and seven lean cattle of the seven fat cattle and seven lean cattle

Non-Western IdeasNon-Western Ideas

Dream dictionaries have been found in India Dream dictionaries have been found in India and Chinaand China Sacred Vedas of India, written between 1500 and Sacred Vedas of India, written between 1500 and

1000 B.C. gave specific interpretations of dreams 1000 B.C. gave specific interpretations of dreams Chinese thought that the soul temporarily left Chinese thought that the soul temporarily left

the body to communicate with the dead during the body to communicate with the dead during dreamsdreams

Images in dreams were thought to have specific Images in dreams were thought to have specific meaningsmeanings Sun/moon rising – one’s family would prosperSun/moon rising – one’s family would prosper Orchard loaded with fruit – one would have many Orchard loaded with fruit – one would have many

offspringoffspring Teeth falling out – one’s parents were in dangerTeeth falling out – one’s parents were in danger

Non-Western IdeasNon-Western Ideas In Africa, not only the gods, but In Africa, not only the gods, but

also as-yet-unborn, living, and also as-yet-unborn, living, and dead family members were dead family members were thought to communicate with thought to communicate with the dreamer through dreamsthe dreamer through dreams

Native American tribes often Native American tribes often believed that dreams were life’s believed that dreams were life’s most important experiencesmost important experiences Iroquois believed that dreams Iroquois believed that dreams

were divinely inspiredwere divinely inspired Some tribes believed that wishes Some tribes believed that wishes

expressed in dreams needed to be expressed in dreams needed to be acted out in waking lifeacted out in waking life

Mapuche Indians of Chile Mapuche Indians of Chile shared their dreams daily shared their dreams daily within the family unitwithin the family unit

0-1900 A.D.0-1900 A.D. Important in Islamic worldImportant in Islamic world

Muhammad drew his inspiration for developing the Muslim Muhammad drew his inspiration for developing the Muslim religion and for his military conquests from his dreamsreligion and for his military conquests from his dreams

They were influenced by the Greeks but sought dreams by They were influenced by the Greeks but sought dreams by reciting prayers during the dayreciting prayers during the day

The Greek Orthodox branch of Christianity continued The Greek Orthodox branch of Christianity continued to value dreamsto value dreams Writings of Synesius, a fifth century bishop, sound like Writings of Synesius, a fifth century bishop, sound like

modern dream interpretationmodern dream interpretation He said dreams could be imaginative, prophetic, and problem-He said dreams could be imaginative, prophetic, and problem-

solving, but he thought that dream books were of little help in solving, but he thought that dream books were of little help in understanding the dreams of a specific individualunderstanding the dreams of a specific individual

Western Christian church founders also valued Western Christian church founders also valued dreamsdreams 3rd Century – Tertulian wrote that dreams were gifts from 3rd Century – Tertulian wrote that dreams were gifts from

God, but that people were not accountable for feelings and God, but that people were not accountable for feelings and actions in their dreamsactions in their dreams

0-1900 A.D.0-1900 A.D. Around 300-400 A.D., attitudes toward dreams changed Around 300-400 A.D., attitudes toward dreams changed

in Europein Europe Jerome, a wealthy man who became a Bible scholar and Jerome, a wealthy man who became a Bible scholar and

consultant after having a nightmare, mistranslated the consultant after having a nightmare, mistranslated the Hebrew word for witchcraft, “anan,” as “observing Hebrew word for witchcraft, “anan,” as “observing dreams.”dreams.” This caused dream interpretation to be changed from a spiritual This caused dream interpretation to be changed from a spiritual

activity to a superstitious one in the eyes of the Catholic church activity to a superstitious one in the eyes of the Catholic church during this time.during this time.

About the same time, Macrobius wrote about About the same time, Macrobius wrote about nightmares in which demons possessed people sexually nightmares in which demons possessed people sexually during dreams, which further fueled the paranoia about during dreams, which further fueled the paranoia about evil spirits.evil spirits.

11th century, Thomas Aquinas issued warnings about 11th century, Thomas Aquinas issued warnings about demons and dreamsdemons and dreams

The medieval Catholic Church suggested that dreams The medieval Catholic Church suggested that dreams were not from God and must be ignoredwere not from God and must be ignored

0-1900 A.D.0-1900 A.D. After the Middle Ages, the philosophical and After the Middle Ages, the philosophical and

scientific community began to rethink dreams, scientific community began to rethink dreams, dissociating them from demons and devils and dissociating them from demons and devils and associating them with scientific inquiryassociating them with scientific inquiry

Scientists began to emphasize the physical or Scientists began to emphasize the physical or somatic features of dreamssomatic features of dreams Locke, in 1690, proposed that dreams were Locke, in 1690, proposed that dreams were

determined by sensory inputsdetermined by sensory inputs Wundt stated that dreams arose mainly from Wundt stated that dreams arose mainly from

sensory stimulisensory stimuli Others began writing about dreams during Others began writing about dreams during

the 19th century (e.g., Seafield)the 19th century (e.g., Seafield)

Psychoanalytic TheoriesPsychoanalytic Theories 1900, Freud wrote the 1900, Freud wrote the Interpretation of Interpretation of

DreamsDreams Influential in changing the view that Influential in changing the view that

dreams are caused by external sources dreams are caused by external sources to the view that dreams are generated to the view that dreams are generated by a result of intrapsychic conflictby a result of intrapsychic conflict

Primary method of dream Primary method of dream interpretation = free associationinterpretation = free association

He had a list of commons symbols that He had a list of commons symbols that could be used to interpret dream could be used to interpret dream images, most of which was sexual in images, most of which was sexual in nature.nature.

Free Dream Interpretation GuideFree Dream Interpretation Guide

Psychoanalytic TheoriesPsychoanalytic Theories Jung viewed dreams as a normal, Jung viewed dreams as a normal,

creative expression of the creative expression of the unconsciousunconscious

He viewed dreams as a key to He viewed dreams as a key to unite the conscious and unite the conscious and unconscious by helping dreamers unconscious by helping dreamers become aware of these hidden become aware of these hidden feelingsfeelings

Jung focused on the manifest Jung focused on the manifest content of the dream to see what content of the dream to see what is revealed rather than concealedis revealed rather than concealed

Jung believed that dreams should Jung believed that dreams should be interpreted in whatever way be interpreted in whatever way dreamers find most usefuldreamers find most useful

Associations were a primary Associations were a primary technique used technique used

Psychoanalytic TheoriesPsychoanalytic Theories Alfred Adler believed that dreams Alfred Adler believed that dreams

function to preserve the unity of one’s function to preserve the unity of one’s personality and sense of self-worthpersonality and sense of self-worth

Dreams are purposeful and congruent Dreams are purposeful and congruent with the lifestyle of the dreamerwith the lifestyle of the dreamer

He considered dreaming to be an He considered dreaming to be an attempt to solve problems and to attempt to solve problems and to provide guidance for the futureprovide guidance for the future

Also thought that dreams achieve Also thought that dreams achieve their purpose by employing emotion their purpose by employing emotion and mood rather than reason and and mood rather than reason and judgmentjudgment

His clinical recommendations for His clinical recommendations for working with dreams are vague working with dreams are vague

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Koch-Sheras, P. R., & Lemley, A. (1998). Koch-Sheras, P. R., & Lemley, A. (1998). The dream sourcebook: A guide to the The dream sourcebook: A guide to the theory and interpretation of dramstheory and interpretation of drams (2 (2ndnd ed.). Chicago: NTC Contemporary.ed.). Chicago: NTC Contemporary.

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