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Erik Homburger Erikson. 'The Dream Specimen of Psychoanalysis.'
Freud's 'Irma dream' is taken to illustrate those aspects of dream interpretation which to-day are considered essential to an exhaustive analysis. The manifest and latent dream thoughts are presented as revealed by Freud in The Interpretation of Dreams. Further details regarding the dreamer's current life situation are added. Emphasis is laid on the manifest content of the dream. The manifest dream is more than a useless shell to be thrown aside in favour of a more worthwhile kernel. The author postulates a style of representation in addition to the dream's striving for representability. This style is a reflection of the individual ego's peculiar time space and frame of reference for its defences, compromises and achievements. A scheme entitled 'Outline of Dream Analysis' is presented. This has four sub-headings: (1) manifest configurations; (2) links between manifest and latent dream material; (3) analysis of latent dream material; (4) reconstruction. A thorough assimilation of part one of such an inventory should allow the observer to realize that the dream life of some persons is characterized by, e.g. a greater clarity of the experience of spatial extension and motion; of others by clear somatic sensations; a rich interpersonal dream life, etc.
The 'Irma dream' is then subjected to analysis with the use of such a chart. The first item is verbal configurations. The numerous mistranslations from German to English are used to analyse further certain latent themes which are withheld in The Interpretation of Dreams. 'Interpersonal configurations in the Dream Population' are next studied. The dreamer's activities are initially described as intrusive, related to phallic behaviour. Later the dreamer appeals for help from higher authority with the ultimate formation of a group with a common conviction. A parallel is drawn between these interpersonal dream configurations and the religious rites