Dream InterpretationEllen Krajcir

Penn State University

About Dreams

- Dreams are successions of images, ideas, emotions, and sensations that occur involuntarily

- REM sleep- Forget 95% within 10 minutes- Oneirology: Study of dreams

"Why Do We Dream?"

- Dream interpretation is the process of assigning meaning to dreams.

- In many ancient societies, such as those of Egypt and Greece, dreaming was considered a supernatural communication

- In modern times, various schools of psychology have offered theories about the meaning of dreams

Introduction

"Dream Interpretation."

Ancient Dream Interpretation

Egyptians: Chester Beatty Papyrus, first dream dictionary

- If you dreamt about something good happening, it meant something bad would happen to you in waking life.

- Gods only spoke to people through dreams

Assyrians: Believed that you could enter the spiritual world in your dreams

Romans: Examined the meanings of the symbols in dreams

Babylonians:

- Good dreams were caused by harmless spirits

- Bad dreams were caused by demons

Greeks:

- Plato: secret desires.

- Aristotle:metaphorical

- Hippocrates: contained symbols that represented the dreamer's physical condition

- dreams could be used to diagnose illness.

- ex: a patient who dreamt of a fire would be suffering from indigestion.

"Ancient Dream Interpretation."

Modern Dream Interpretation

Modern dream interpretation was first represented by Sigmund Freud:

-The Interpretation of Dreams

- Understand dreams

- Analysis of dreams

- Comprised of repressed psychological material

Dreams are modernly studied because they are believed to represent the most prominent feelings, interests and concerns of the individual.

"Modern Dream Interpretations."

3 dream events with meanings:- Falling- Losing Teeth- Being Chased

Falling

- Most common dream theme - May be caused by drop blood pressure or

movement of fluid in ear- Indication of insecurities, instabilities, and

anxieties.- Fear of letting go, dealing with these feelings

- Connected to the evolutionary idea of coming from monkeys

- Innate fear

.

"Dreams about Falling - Meaning of Dream - Dream Interpretation."

Losing Teeth

- Represents important life change

- Anxieties- Often symbolizes challenging

emotions that come up during significant times of transition

- Connected to time of transition in childhood when we lose teeth

"Dreams About Teeth Falling Out."

Being Chased

- Insecurity - Stemming from feelings of anxiety in

your waking life- Flee and flight is an instinctive

response to a physical threat in the environment.

- What are you running from?

"Dreams About Being Chased."

Conclusion

- Analyzing falling, losing teeth, and being chased in our dreams is a modern way that we can interpret our own dreams.

- What do your dreams say about you?

Questions?

Ellen Krajcir,esk5086@psu.edu

References"Ancient Dream Interpretation." Meaning of Dreams Is a User Oriented Resource Backed up by Expert Research. N.p., n.d. Web.

09 Nov. 2012. <http://www.meaningofdreams.org/dream_theory/ancientdreaminterpretation.htm>.

"An Online Guide To Dream Interpretation." An Online Guide To Dream Interpretation. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Sept. 2012. <http://dreammoods.com/>.

"Dream Interpretation." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 22 Oct. 2012. Web. 28 Oct. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dream_interpretation>.

Hamilton-Parker, Craig. "Dreams about Falling - Meaning of Dream - Dream Interpretation." YouTube. YouTube, 03 July 2010. Web. 29 Oct. 2012. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IY8InzzULVk>.

Hamilton-Parker, Craig. "Dreams About Teeth Falling Out." YouTube. YouTube, 01 July 2010. Web. 29 Oct. 2012. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTWJj1Z9Zgw>.

Hamilton-Parker, Craig. "Dreams About Being Chased." YouTube. YouTube, 06 July 2010. Web. 29 Oct. 2012. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3g2DTd3xFb0>.

"Interpret Your Dream About Teeth Falling Out." THamilton-Parker, Craig. "Dreams About Being Chased." YouTube. YouTube, 06 July 2010. Web. 29 Oct. 2012. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3g2DTd3xFb0>.eeth Falling Out Dream â Dream Interpretation & Symbols� � . N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Sept. 2012. <http://www.teethfallingoutdream.org/>.

"Modern Dream Interpretations." Modern Dream Interpretations. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Nov. 2012. <http://dream-books.net/modern-dream-interpretations.html>.

Vsauce. "Why Do We Dream?" YouTube. YouTube, 18 Oct. 2011. Web. 28 Oct. 2012. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GGzc3x9WJU>.