Manifest Content

Definition

Manifest content refers to the actual storyline or events that occur in a dream, as remembered by the dreamer.

Related terms

Dreams:

These are sequences of images, emotions, and thoughts passing through a sleeping person's mind. Dreams are notable for their hallucinatory imagery, discontinuities, and incongruities.

Consciousness:

This is our awareness of ourselves and our environment. In terms of dreams, it's like being an audience member in the cinema of your mind.

REM Sleep:

This is rapid eye movement sleep; a recurring sleep stage during which vivid dreams commonly occur. It's like the projector in our analogy - it plays out the 'movie' (dream) for us to watch (experience).