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PSAR 16(1):69-93 (1929)

Internationale Zeitschrift fur Psychoanalyse

Author: Clara Willard

(Vol. IX, No. 1)

1. Freud, S. Notes on the Theory and Practice of Dream Interpretation.
2. Horney, K. The Genesis of the Female Castration Complex.
3. Abraham, K. Contribution to the Theory of the Anal Character.

1. Notes on the Theory and Practice of Dream Interpretation.— Dr. Siground Freud here adds a few remarks to his text on the interpretation of dreams.

1. In the interpretation of dreams any one of several technical procedures may be adopted: the patient may be led to give his associations to elements in the dream as they occur in chronological sequence; or he may be required to give what occurs to him in regard to particular striking features; or questions may be asked concerning the events of the previous day, which come to mind in connection with the dream; or, finally, if the dreamer knows something about the technique of analysis, all guidance may be dispensed with and the dreamer may be permitted to choose for himself the associations with which he wishes to begin. Freud does not see that any one of these methods has any great advantage over the others.
2. He considers the degree of resistance a factor of great importance. One noteworthy feature of very great resistance is that the associations begin to broaden out laterally, instead of becoming deeper. If the resistance is very great it is almost impossible to make definite interpretations and the most that can be done is to suggest some symbolic interpretation which has a show of probability. Only when the resistance is brought within certain bounds is it possible to work to advantage with the patient. There are dreams which are signs of resistance, though this feature may not be at once obvious; they consist of a working over of the latent dream thought, much as in the successfully elaborated works of artistic imagination. They are not interpretaWe, the content merely serving as guide to more significant material.
3. A distinction is made between dreams from above and dreams from below; the latter being the

PSAR 16(1):69-93 (1929)

Internationale Zeitschrift fur Psychoanalyse

Author: Clara Willard

(Vol. IX, No. 1)

1. Freud, S. Notes on the Theory and Practice of Dream Interpretation.
2. Horney, K. The Genesis of the Female Castration Complex.
3. Abraham, K. Contribution to the Theory of the Anal Character.

1. Notes on the Theory and Practice of Dream Interpretation.— Dr. Siground Freud here adds a few remarks to his text on the interpretation of dreams.

1. In the interpretation of dreams any one of several technical procedures may be adopted: the patient may be led to give his associations to elements in the dream as they occur in chronological sequence; or he may be required to give what occurs to him in regard to particular striking features; or questions may be asked concerning the events of the previous day, which come to mind in connection with the dream; or, finally, if the dreamer knows something about the technique of analysis, all guidance may be dispensed with and the dreamer may be permitted to choose for himself the associations with which he wishes to begin. Freud does not see that any one of these methods has any great advantage over the others.
2. He considers the degree of resistance a factor of great importance. One noteworthy feature of very great resistance is that the associations begin to broaden out laterally, instead of becoming deeper. If the resistance is very great it is almost impossible to make definite interpretations and the most that can be done is to suggest some symbolic interpretation which has a show of probability. Only when the resistance is brought within certain bounds is it possible to work to advantage with the patient. There are dreams which are signs of resistance, though this feature may not be at once obvious; they consist of a working over of the latent dream thought, much as in the successfully elaborated works of artistic imagination. They are not interpretaWe, the content merely serving as guide to more significant material.
3. A distinction is made between dreams from above and dreams from below; the latter being the