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The Concept of Dream

Written by, Venkanna Kollabathula, B.A. 1958.

Revised by Srinivas Kollabathula, April 24, 2011.

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As dreams are our daily experiences, who is not interested to know how and why dreams occur? We generally think that dreams are recollection of immediate and past experiences, repeating in sleep. Well, it is a very general conception; a more scientific enquiry into the theory of dream is too expedient.

What a scientist tells us about the concept of dream today is different from that of the old concept. In olden days people thought dreams were due to the divine inspiration. Hence much was the belief in people that dreams are Prophetic in nature. Joseph’s interpretation of the prisoner’s dreams and the King Pharos, Daniel’s interpretation of King Nebuchadnezzar’s dreams are splendid illustrations of that sort we come across in Bible.

We can speak at length on this matter. For instance, once a Roman emperor killed his kindred when he told him about his dream in which he killed the emperor. It was conceived by the King there was some truth in the dream.

Today the interpretation of a dream is altogether different. Freud the father of psychology, defines dream as the fulfillment of a wish. Sometimes, dreams appear to be the satisfaction of desires. But a doubt arise here that whether all dreams are the fulfillment of our wishes. Of course Freud tells that dream is the expression of wishes and this is reasonable to certain extent, for there will be dreams which fall out of the definition. Hence a better definition of dream is to be explored.

Mr. Robert defines that “dreams are eliminations of thoughts nipped in the bud”. This definition is has a different approach because in our dreams, we can easily observer that when we are disinclined to think about a matter and abruptly stop it we often dream of the same in the night. And the fulfillment of such a wish or intention will depend upon the extent of inclination. In most of the erotic dreams this theory will hold good. Even then we find this definition not all-comprehensive or correct for the reason that there will be dreams which cannot have any coherence to nipping in the bud. A fully cherished idea will also be the material for a dream and in such a case we cannot maintain that there is primary elimination of thought in it. So a better explanation of the cause of dream is yet to be arrived at.

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Dr. Rivers defines that “dream arises out of mental conflict, and is an attempt successful, part successful, or unsuccessful to solve a problem.” This definition of Dr. Rivers is intelligible and appreciable to a great extent. Most of our dreams, indeed, arise out of conflicts of thoughts and sometime the objective in mind will be achieved fully and some other times partly. So also there may not be a success of it. That is also possible.

When we begin to interpret our dreams according to the various definitions mentioned above, we can appreciate to what extent the eminent psychologists throw light on this subject. To proceed with let us take the dream of a Child. Children generally dream of eating cakes, finding money, playing games and so on. Similarly when a Child goes to a strange place and remains, it is quite probable to dream as if he went home or was at home. In all the above said cases it is the wish fulfillment. Hence Freud’s definition of dream is quite applicable and satisfactory.

Similarly Robert’s definition hat dreams are eliminations of thoughts nipped in the bud appears to be true in cases of erotic dreams and dreams which arise of fear. In most cases of erotic dreams expression of desires and their fulfillment can be observed. But suppose we don’t like to entertain a thought regarding love affair because of moral censor and thus suppress the thought in the very beginning stage. At such times we are sure to dream about the same.

Further, when we fear to do a thing or hesitate to think about due to mental disturbance, in such circumstances also our thoughts which one appear on the mental horizon will stand still and appear in dreams.

In further discussing Dr. River’s dream theory, it may be said that in most of the normal cases where we devote some thought on a certain subject and then sleep, we are sure to dream of the same in which some solution or other ( which is simple illusionary in nature ) will be derived. Satisfaction, sometimes part satisfaction and complete frustration at other times will often be the result. This is the broad outline of dream theory.

Now let us further examine the scientific approach towards dream and the causes of its arising.

The causes of dreams can be broadly divided into three groups namely external sensory stimuli, internal or organic stimuli and purely physical or exciting sources.

The first cause as explained by Freud in his “ Interpretation of Dreams” will help us understand that often times dreams occur due to external stimuli that we experience in sleep about which are not conscious. When a man has fallen asleep and when there is any stimulation due to light, sound or touch to the external sensitive organs, a corresponding dream will be dreamt by the person. Frued gives several beautiful examples of this type which he experimented and experienced in his life. For instance when light is suddenly focused on a sleeping person he dreams about flames, burning of house and the like.

Internal organic stimuli will also have a direct bearing on a dream. What is often deeply thought, disturbed our peace, or impressed our mind will be sure to arise in the form of a dream This is our daily experience and we cannot but accept this reason.


The next reason is that some dreams are due purely physical or exciting sources. This perhaps depends upon health and strength of a person and a corresponding effect on the body. This cause shows that immediate past excitement, disturbances, fear and impulse are the different causes for the occurrences of dreams.

Let us further discuss about the exact time when a dream sets in and its nature during sleep. It is held by eminent Psychologists that dream is the continuation of wakeful mind. It is on the other side argued that dream is the guardian of sleep. Let us try to understand these statements here. Naturally a dream sets in only when a man is about to wake up from sleep. The duration between deep sleep and complete wake fullness must be filled by certain unclear and dull thought-process in the brain, and hence it can be fully or partially, clearly or vaguely remembered. In this way the former view is correct. The latter view displays that a person enjoys sound sleep during dreaming and when wakeful the dream is at an end. Thus dream guards sleep and when dream ceases, the person who dreamed either must be in peaceful sleep or wakeful mind.

Thus this theory contradicts the former, but one thing is certain that generally as long as a person dreams he enjoys sleep. Even then when a person is in a disturbed state of mind he may dream throughout his sleep and will not have any rest or peace. It shows that person enjoys little good sleep. So, that dream is the guardian of sleep is not a sound principle. The combined truth of both the principles will no doubt give full comprehension of the matter.

Thus an attempt to understand and interpret a dream in a logical way will clear out many of our superstitions regarding dreams and help us in taking dream in its true sense.
