Adler: The function of dreams is to solve

Adler: The function of dreams is to solve real problems

Alfred Adler (1870-1937) was an Austrian psychiatrist and protege of Freud, who later broke up with him and later founded the school of 'individual psychology' on the basis of his criticism of Freud. Adler focused on the study of the function of dreams, and he saw dreams as an attempt to solve problems and overcome difficulties faced. The premise of this idea is that if you face life's problems bravely, you will dream less.

Although Adler believes that the main function of dreams is to solve problems, he does not believe that the solutions presented in dreams are necessarily good. He pointed out that in dreams we may only deceive ourselves, the solution given by the dream may be temporarily satisfactory, but it may not actually advance the individual toward the goal, that is, sometimes the solution given by the dream is only to comfort the dreamer, but it can not help the actual solution of the problem. Adler also believes that if the same dream is repeated, it is a repeated answer to the same question, and if the solution is wrong, it means that a person will repeatedly deceive themselves.

Adler opposes the separation of consciousness and unconsciousness, opposes the attribution of the background of dreams to sex, and believes that Freud's proposition that dreams are the fulfillment of desires has no universal significance. He pointed out that if a dream is so confusing that the dreamer forgets his dream and does not understand his dream, what satisfaction is there in such a dream? Everyone dreams, but almost no one really understands his dreams, so what happiness does the dreamer get from his dreams?

Adler emphasized the link between dreams and life, saying, 'Dreams must be the product of the style of life, and they must help to build and strengthen the style of life.' At the same time, he also believes that the emotions expressed in the dream will be filled with the rest of life.

Adler emphasized the individuality of dreams, arguing that dreams are the product of an individual's life style, derived from the individual's interpretation of his particular environment, that each person is different, and that dream interpretation must relate to the dreamer's problems, behavior, and early life. Therefore, he opposed the interpretation of dreams by fixed rules, believing that the interpretation of dreams belongs to individuals, even if it is a symbol or metaphor, it cannot be explained by general formulas.

Adler believes that the dream state is by its nature a continuation of the mind before sleep, rather than a fundamentally different state, and that dreams have adaptive value, which will help the individual cope with the problems they face. In addition, he opposed the use of fixed rules for dream interpretation, arguing that people are different and that dream interpretation must relate to their individual problems, behaviors, and early lives.