ISSN 0202-3318. PSICHOLOGIJA. 1998. 18 Dream Analysis Using Theories of Analytical Psychology Saulė Buzaitė Vilniaus universiteto Klinikinės ir socialinės psichologijos katedros doktorantė · Didlaukio g 47, LT-2057 Vilnius Tel./faks. 76 25 71, 76 18 90 The paper covers three major theoretical spontaneous and openly manifest fashion approches on dreams that now dominate in using meaningful language of symbols (Jung analytical psychology.Modi fications of Jung's CW8, 1981). This idea was new and contra­ original ideas could create some problems dictory to Freud's understanding of dream dealing with dream material to those who are content as having latent secret meaning and not familiar with the present situation sa the performing wish-fulfillment function in re­ purpose of this paper is to clear up the lation to conscious attitude. In addition Jung pecularities characteristic to each theoretical stated that unconscious material provided approach. Clinical case report and qualita­ by dreams contributed to the conscious situ­ tive data analysis forms methodological basis ation of the dreamer as it corrected and of the three level interpretation of dreams se­ complemented its actual one-sided stand­ lected during the course of depth orientedpsy­ point in the most relevant way. (Jung CW16, chotherapy. This method was chosen as the 1985). This compensatory view of dreams most apprapriate dealing with the clinical was consistent to his theory of self-regula­ material. tory, balance seeking functioning of the psyche. Moreover, it follows from Jungian Introduction ideas that the unconscious in the depths of Dream analysis is an important part of Jun­ it's creative potentials is working for the gian psychotherapy as one of the best modes solution of the problematic issues in dream­ of finding the way and relation to still un­ ers life. This forms the essence of his con­ known and unconscious parts of patient's cept of the transcendental function which, personality and his psychopathology. while connecting the two realms of the Through his works Jung defined the main psyche, makes possible a birth of a new in­ function of dreams as mediators between the tegral attitude of the mind. So not only com­ conscious and unconscious parts of the pensa tory but even prospective role of psyche. Dreams are seen as reflecting un­ dreams becomes possible. ''We must now conscious situation of the dreamer in a most make clear what is required to produce the 83 transcendent function. First and foremost, we the dreamers life), the subjective level (the need the unconscious material. The most dream images are understood as relevant to readily accessible expression of unconscious the dreamer's intrapsychic structure forma­ processes is undoubtedly dreams. The dream tions and constellations of complexes), and is, so to speak, a pure product of the uncon­ the archetypal level (the dream images are scious. The alterations which the dream un­ used to reveal the archetypal situation of the dergoes in the process of reaching conscious­ dreamer; this is attainable through expand­ ness, although undeniable, can be considered ing the dream content and interpreting its irrelevant, since they too derive from the symbols in the context of large symbolic re­ unconscious and are not intentional distor­ ligious and mythological systems that carry tions" (Jung, 1988, p. 283). However, Jung in themselves universal treasures of collec­ agreed that dream language needed interpre­ tive unconscious structured in the archetypal tation in order to make their secret essence forms). understandable and acceptable to conscious­ Since the time Jung originated his ideas ness, for he regarded dream images as full of the place and role of dreams in analytical rich symbolic meaning and coloured by spe­ psychology underwent some changes and dif­ cial affectional tone. The basic principles of ferent modes of working with dreams were dream interpretation used by Jung were col­ developed by his followers. It appears that lection of personai association of the dreamer those, who adopt the mare traditional Jun­ in relation to the dream content and ampli­ gian standpoint and belong to the so-called fication of this content using historical, cul­ Classical School of analytical psychology, tural and mythological parallels in order to mostly emphasize the intrapsychic significance explore the meaning of the dream as deeply of the dream images and the compensatory­ and widely as possible, while connecting per­ regulatory function they provide. Represen­ sonai situation of the dreamer with the uni­ tatives of this tradition use a lot of dream versal archetypal realm of human experience. material in their clinical work and carefully It is well known that Jung understood examine how dream reflect complexes and dream interpretation mare as an art than as general unconscious situation of the patient, a strictly scientific method. He wrote that for his personality structure and other things in working with dreams both intellectual and this line. Some of post-Jungian thinkers are spiritual skills of the analyst are necessary as creating their own systems of dream inter­ much as his emotional involvement, sincere pretation based on Jungian method. For ex­ attitude and deep insight (Jung CW 8, 1981). ample, A. Stevens applies dream content in­ And although he did not organized his ideas terpretation in the following three dimen­ on dreams into a single theory, three main sions: personai, cultural and archetypal levels of dream analysis were later distin­ (Stevens, 1995). Of course, his point of view guished by his followers. It is the objective stays in the framework of classical Jungian level (the dream images are considered in method. Some mare serious modifications their relation to actual people and events in regarding dream meaning were created by 84 those authors who, according to A. Samuels' first of all is trying to extract from any dream classification, belong to post-Jungian Devel­ content the meaning related to the actual, opmental and Archetypal Schools (Samuels, objective situation of the dreamer and bis real 1985). relationships in the life. Dream images are Analytical psychologists adhering to the interpreted mostly in the objective level. Developmental school are more under the The third special mode of looking at influence of neo-Freudian thought, especially dreams belongs to the school of Archetypal object relations theory to the creation of psychology. Its founder J. Hillman states the which the greatest contribution was made by priority of archetypal perspective as funda­ Klein, Fairbrain, Winnicot, Bion and other mental dealing with the deeper realm of soul. psychoanalytic thinkers. What forms the es­ Depth, soul, love, death are the main catego­ sence of this theory is that primary objects ries of bis theoretical model. The imagina­ relations, i.e. infant's relations with mother, tive world of dreams which overpowers us at father or other caretakers, are internalized night and leads to the depths of unconscious­ in some symbolic forms as part-object struc­ ness has its special value as reflecting arche­ tures and later might determine the indi­ typal layers of the psyche. This night world is vidual's psychology and possibly bis psycho­ placed into opposition to the flat "surface pathological level. Internalized part-object reality" of the day Ego. So dreams imagery: components, as much as the independently characters, situations, actions cannot be un­ functioning Self, are regarded as active agen­ derstood from the conscious Ego position. cies of the interpersonal relationship patterns Only mythological thinking and symbols are (Ogden, 1990). The main aim of psycho­ seen as resembling in some ways archetypal therapy is to achieve externalization of sym­ dimensions of soul life expressed in dreams. bolic internal object relationship in a "safe" In this way Hillman rejects Jung's attitude therapeutic environment. So, according to the that dreams are connected to and in some Developmental approach the psychotherapeu­ way dependent on from the conscious posi­ tic interactions are mostly valuable material: tion of the mind and fulfills a compensatory dynamic structures of internal objects are function. He stresses the independence of under constant observation in transference­ dreams as phenomena that have their own countertransference relationships, projective existence and purposes because they come identification phenomena, etc. Dreams in this from the archetypal region completely alien context are interpreted as reflections of the to conscious reality and have distinctive rules patients mode of organizing object-related which are beyond the boundaries of harmony experience which is activated during the psy­ and morality but close to the experience of chotherapeutic process due to transference numinosum. To try to deal with dreams in and countertransference feelings, activation the method of Archetypal psychologyis some­ of psychological defense mechanisms, projec­ thing different from what is understood by ti"ns etc. Perhaps it could be stated that the archetypal amplification of dreams in Classi­ analyst working in this theoretical approach cal school. It is not drawing mythological 85 parallels related to dream content that is alcoholism there were frequent quarrels in important but taking the dream images back the family and the patient, then a little giri, to their original archetypal realm. There "they and her mother had to run away from the become mythic beings, not mainly