Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Sigmund Freud's theory of dream interpretation, which suggests that dreams are a manifestation of unconscious desires and wishes.
Related terms
Cognitive theory: A different perspective on dreaming that focuses on the cognitive processes involved in dreaming, such as memory consolidation and problem-solving during sleep.
Activation-synthesis theory: This theory proposes that dreams are the result of random brain activity during REM sleep, which is then interpreted and synthesized by the brain into a meaningful narrative.
Neurobiological approach: An approach that seeks to explain dreams by examining the physiological processes and brain structures involved in dream generation.