I. Introduction

           When I was a kid, someday I have told a dream to my grandma and her reaction about my dream is “oh, that is a bad sign. I need to put a scissors under your pillow.” At this semester, I’m taking psychology class and the professor said the dream are the wishes, memories of people. Thus, I’m wondering what is the difference and similarity of interpret a dream in different aspects. This essay will talk about how a culture interprets dreams though its specifies and how does a psychologist interpret a dream. The similarity and difference of how a culture relate message from the dream to spirits and in psychology area interpret a message in unconscious mind aspect.

II. Similarity

    2.1 Enlightenment from the god.

         Throughout the research I did, a lot of cultures believed dreams are connected with gods. In dream, they can communicate with their gods, some spirits, and their ancestors. They believed they can get the answer from the gods when they are confused or struggle with some problems. In an interesting aspect of Chinese theory, every individual has double soul which combines as one soul. First one is called “po” which controls the functions of life and is attached with body. It leaves and goes and back to the earth when the person dies. Second one is called “hun” which governs the functions of reason and goes to heaven after the person’s death and retains that person’s physical appearance. The dream happens when the connection between body and soul disconnects. People are alive because the soul stays inside the body, in other words, if the soul leaves the body, the person would dead. However, when the soul leaves the body in a short term, it wouldn’t cause death but cause theswoons, trances, and dreams. B. Laufer (1931) says, it said “The soul separates from the body and enters into communication with spirits; it may freely interview the souls of the departed or have speech with the gods. At the end of the dream the soul returns to the body.”

Mayan culture talks about the god and dream as well. They believe dream can be interpreted by divinatory, calendrical, mythological, and other cultural codes. In Mayan dream theory, dreams contain the message from god. God will give the direction when the dreamers struggles. Tedlock ,B (1981) says,  “The interpreters of momostenango called ajk’ij “day [sun or time] keeper”, they practice as calendrical diviners”.  And those day keepers link the omen with specific day on which it appeares. Nawal is the part of self which would leave when people are dreaming and meet others nawal. As same as the Chinese theory of dream, Mayans think the soul is “lightning” which is a kind of soul which enables them to receive messages from the external world (both natural and supernatural) within their bodies of the people who are born in particular day. The “lightning” only moves inside the blood, tissue and muscles of a person and wouldn’t leave unless the person is dead, which has the same concept of dream (Tedlock ,B, 1981).

Greek culture also mentions about the message from the god. “Alexander saw in a dream Heracles offering him his right hand from the wall and calling.” (King, C. 2013).

2.2 The message from unconscious mind.

Freud proposed a theory about human psychological structure module which is 3 parts of human mental life, id, superego, and ego.  Id implements pleasure first principle. Superego is the “control center”, it controls what should we do or not. Ego is balanced the id and superego and depends on particular situation that we are involve. For example, right now I’m writing my research paper and at the same time, I want to watch some Youtube videos (that is id). But the research paper is important than Youtube (superego says no). Thus, I watch some vides when I’m finish a page of the research paper (ego make the balance between id and superego). The wishes which was repressed by superego are went to our unconscious mind.

According to Freud’s theory of dreams, a dream is a box which fulfillment of a repressed wish in disguised form. Those repressed wishes are stay in unconscious area. Thus, most of time people dreaming about something happened is what they wish to happen. Freud and Jung both agree that dreams are a façade for the preservation of sleep and represent the “guardian of sleep” (Jones, E. 1910). Dream are distorted and disguised expression, Freud concluded phenomenal which could distort the dream (Jones, E. 1910). (1) Condensation is a figure in a dream may be constituted by fusion of traits belonging to more than one actual person is then called a “collective person” (Sammelperson) (Jones, E. 1910). (2) Displacement is one idea or symbol was displaced by other idea or symbol. E.g. “I recently dreamt that I was travelling in Italy on my way to the next Freudian Congress (which is to be held in March). On looking at my railway ticket I found it was for  Lugaro. In reality I know of no place of that name, but I have pleasant memories of the charming Italian resort Lugano. In the dream I had replaced the n by the letter r.” (Jones, E. 1910).

Jung agrees with Freud’s idea of dreams. A dream is represents unconscious mind. Jung also gives a theory about dream, the compensatory theory (Zhu, C. 2013). The compensatory theory can be expressed in 3 different possibilities: (1) Opposites: the dream is reverse of what you think unconsciously. E.g. Jung dreaming about he had to look up at the woman which is Jung’s patient and is an intelligent woman. Jung interpret he probably been looking down on her both intellectually and morally. as according to Jung, “dreams are, after all, compensations for the conscious attitude” (Zhu, C. 2013). (2) Satisfaction with slight modifications is the solution of dream which balance the repress wish and reality (Zhu, C. 2013). (3) Parallels or coincidences is dream of coincides with what happens in conscious life (Zhu, C. 2013).

Those interpretations of dreams are based on personal experience and can be interpreted in a million ways.

2.3 Unconscious, the place that “god” living.

In culture aspect, dream can deliver the message from the god and in one of Freud’s theory of dreams, he mentions dreams are contain repress wishes. Thus, the dream demonstrates the message which is unacceptable for us. Also, one of the phenomenon of a dream is displacement. So, in my opinion, the god is the symbol which is in a distortion dream of the repress wish. In psychology study area, there are diverse angles can interpret a dream. A psychologist interprets a dream based on the patient’s circumstance, a diviner interprets a person’s dream based on their culture. Those facts show interpreting a dream is a subjective logic. Egyptians interpret a dream based on punning, or verbal connections between similar words “the words for “donkey” and “great” were homonyms, therefore a dream about eating donkey meat meant good luck.” (Stratos, A. n.d.).

III. Difference

    3.1 Dream books know you better

In many different cultures, people interpret dreams by using reference book. It’s fixed and unchanged, and each symbol are represents particular meaning. In Islamic-Iranian culture the books of dream interpretation Kamelo Tabiir (Teflisi 1992), written in Persian in 1164 AD by Abolfazl Kamaladdin Habishe Ebne Ebrahim Ben Mohhammad Teflisi (1105–1205 AD) is based on the spiritual and religious tradition of Islamic culture. There are some examples from the book. “diːg – dær xɑːb kædbɑːnuje xɑːne ʔæst (‘pot – pot in dream is the maid of the home’).” (Rahman Veisi Hasar. 2017). In this example, the pot represents the maid of the home. Because the book was written in 1164 AD, so in that period, the woman probably is a housewife or a female slave. They are responsible for washing clothes and work in the kitchen. “ʔesfenɑːdʒ – ʔægær dær xɑːb ʔesfenɑːdʒ binæd dælil bær ɣæmo ʔænduːh ʔæst (‘spinach – seeing spinach in a dream signifies grief and sadness’).” (Rahman Veisi Hasar. 2017)

Babylonia has the same form of reference that interprets dream as well, called the dream table. On the table “If he gaze toward the right his adversary will die. If he gaze toward the left his adversary will overcome him. If he look backward he will not attain his desire.” (Langdon,.Stephen, 2019). Babylonia interprets dreams by astrology and liver divination,

In Egyptian culture, they have a dream book papyrus. The book is focus on the culture of Egyptian. Here is the example, “if a man sees himself in a dream – dead good omen, meaning long life. Eating crocodile flesh good omen, meaning he will become a village official. Bringing in cattle good omen, dreamer will evangelize the spirit of the community.” (Stratos, A. n.d.)

In those examples, everyone can interpret dreams by dream books, even they are not knowledge about divination.

3.2 How does a psychologist interpret a dream?

Psychologist interprets a dream through the experiences of the person. Freud stands the dreams are related with the dreamer’s waking life. (Means, John R., Palmatier, Jay R., Wilson, Gregory L., Hickey, J. Scott, Hess-Homeier, M. Joan, Hickey, C. Sue, & Freedheim, Donald K. 1986). Some interesting facts was proposed in psychology area, dreams are select certain memories and use the memories constitute a dream. A psychologist interprets a dream through several steps. 

First, garnering/Examining All Dream Images. This step is require the therapist record the patients’ dream images and details. Second, Clarification of Affective and Kinesthetic Components. The patient needs to provide much more details of the dream and claim the feelings when the scenes of the dream changed. “The general goal of this second task is to identify and then organize the sequence of feelings, actions, and experiences in the dream. The organized pattern of emotional and behavioral sequences serves as a “road map” to be followed during the revivification process.” (Means, John R., Palmatier, Jay R., Wilson, Gregory L., Hickey, J. Scott, Hess-Homeier, M. Joan, Hickey, C. Sue, & Freedheim, Donald K. 1986) Third, Revivification. In this step the therapist needs to relax the patient. Once the patient is relaxed, the therapist leads the patient relive the dream. When the patient’s feeling is emerged, the therapist needs relate the experiences of the patient with the feeling of the dream scenes. “In addition, as central feelings/thoughts are highlighted, the therapist may “bridge” these experiences to other times or places by asking if the client has experienced similar sensations previously.” (Means, John R., Palmatier, Jay R., Wilson, Gregory L., Hickey, J. Scott, Hess-Homeier, M. Joan, Hickey, C. Sue, & Freedheim, Donald K. 1986) Fourth, Integration. The therapist asks the patient’s current life situation and question the patient about the feeling are connect with his/her current life.  “Once the dream has been revivified, the remaining task is to relate the dream to the client’s real-life experiences and to decide whether the dream points to a desirable change in behavior.” (Means, John R., Palmatier, Jay R., Wilson, Gregory L., Hickey, J. Scott, Hess-Homeier, M. Joan, Hickey, C. Sue, & Freedheim, Donald K. 1986)

Zhu, C. (2013) says, “The dynamics of the analyst and the analysand, rather than any preconceived theory, thus determine much of the process of dream interpretation.” The hardest part to therapist is prevent to put therapists’ opinion on patient’s dreams. That would affect the accuracy of interpretation. Jung insist on dream interpretation has a million ways possibilities, those possibilities are related with that person’s personality and current situation. “Its character is always closely bound with the whole nature of the individual. The possibilities of compensation are without number and inexhaustible, though with increasing experience certain basic features gradually crystallize out ([4], para. 490).” (Zhu, C. 2013)

 3.3 The difference between a psychologist and a diviner.

The most parts of psychology of interpret a dream is different with culture aspects. What I think is even in nowadays, people are living with their own culture for thousand years and psychology have shorter history than cultures. People didn’t realize the unconscious mind was governed their dreams. Divination is easier controlled and be aware than unconscious mind. Based on previous example, culturally interpret a dream are according to their dream books, this is unchanged and everyone can interpret their own dreams. However, a psychologist interprets a dream need a lot of factor to interpret a dream and avoid make prejudge to patients’ dream. The psychology needs be educated psychology knowledge.

3.4 Dream is a practice for dangerous situation.

In dream interpretation topic, a third opinion about the dreams were emerged. Biology field believe dreams are some random noise which produced at REM sleep stage. In cognitive neuroscience field, dreams has no meaning. (Revonsuo, A. 2000) Dream has functional meaning in process of memory.  “Hobson (1994) has suggested that REM- dreaming might have a function in memory processing, and he specifically regards the rehearsal of motor programs as a possible function of dreaming during REM sleep.” (Revonsuo, A. 2000) and deal with our emotional problems. (Revonsuo, A. 2000) Biology field believe dreams are focus on simulate dangerous situation and reduce survival cost. “Emotions are evolved adaptations that increase the ability to respond appropriately in adaptively important situations. Negative emotions such as anxiety, fear, and panic, can be seen as adaptive responses that increase fit- ness in dangerous situations threatening a loss of reproductive resources (Marks & Nesse 1994).” (Revonsuo, A. 2000) Dream can help the brain build neural connection especially in visual part. (Carey, Benedict. 2009)

IV. Conclusion

Dream is a fantastic experience that everyone has. Culture and psychology have the same points on interpretation of dream. They both trying to figure out the message from the dream and gives inspiration to our problems. The difference is in culture aspect, the interpretation of dream is based on dream book and changeless. Psychology interpret a dream is based on individual’s past experiences and has a thousand ways to interpret. I believe we should interpret dreams in psychology angle, because the culture interpretation is not accurate as psychology interpretation. Sometimes we should question ourselves. What I’m thinking? Why I’m thinking in this way? How does the ideas will help me when I’m a particular circumstance?

References

Zhu, C. (2013). Jung on the nature and interpretation of dreams: A developmental delineation with cognitive neuroscientific responses. Behavioral Sciences (Basel, Switzerland), 3(4), 662-675.

Means, John R., Palmatier, Jay R., Wilson, Gregory L., Hickey, J. Scott, Hess-Homeier, M. Joan, Hickey, C. Sue, & Freedheim, Donald K. (1986). DREAM INTERPRETATION. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training, 23(3), 448-452.

Stratos, A. (n.d.). Egypt: Perchance to Dream: Dreams and Their Meaning in Ancient Egypt. Retrieved from http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/dream.htm#

King, C. (2013). Plutarch, Alexander, and Dream Divination. Illinois Classical Studies, (38), 81-111. doi:10.5406/illiclasstud.38.0081

Langdon, .Stephen”A Babylonian Dream Tablet on the Interpretation of Dreams” journal Magazine . (): n. pag. The Museum Journal. Penn Museum, Web. 17 Apr 2019 <http://www.penn.museum/sites/journal/?p=586>

Rahman Veisi Hasar. (2017). Metaphor and Metonymy in Ancient Dream Interpretation: The Case of Islamic-Iranian Culture. Journal of Ethnology and Folkloristics, 11(2), 69-83.

Jones, E. (1910). Freud’s Theory of Dreams. The American Journal of Psychology, 21(2), 283-308. doi:10.2307/1413004

Laufer, B. (1931). Inspirational Dreams in Eastern Asia. The Journal of American Folklore, 44(172), 208-216. doi:10.2307/535842

Tedlock, B. (1981). Quiché Maya Dream Interpretation. Ethos, 9(4), 313-330. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/639913

Carey, Benedict. “A Dream Interpretation: Tuneups for the Brain.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 9 Nov. 2009, www.nytimes.com/2009/11/10/health/10mind.html?searchResultPosition=1.

Revonsuo, A. (2000). The reinterpretation of dreams: An evolutionary hypothesis of the function of dreaming. Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 23(6), 877-901.