Friedman discusses the symbolism of the Bridge in a paper rich in illustrative material derived from the psycho-analytical literature, from his own clinical practice, and from mythological and literary sources. His observations confirm Ferenczi's conclusions that the bridge symbolizes (a) the penis, which unites the parents during sexual intercourse, (b) the changes of state from intrauterine to extra-uterine existence (birth) and from life to death, both changes being associated with incestuous phantasies, and (c) 'changes of condition' in general. In addition Friedman states that in his experience bridge dreams play a crucial role in those analyses in which they occur. They are transference dreams and appear at a strategic point in the life of the patient.

It is his impression 'that the emergence of the bridge symbol in a dream stems from a very deep repression, since the analyses of such dreams seemed to free a great deal of material that had previously been inaccessible or withheld'.