Approaching the dream as a question: A self-analytical exploration on the expressive functions of dreams

ABSTRACT

The author suggests that dreams are an expressive means through which the psychic apparatus delineates, construes and communicates an issue it is faced with. It is shown that there are substantial differences between this approach and more classical understandings of the nature and function of dreaming. Instead of laying emphasis on dream work as a defence system or as outlets of unconscious drives, the author highlights two further aspects of dreaming: (1) that in and through dreaming the psychic apparatus has developed a specific capacity to identify and express questions, problems and emotional experiences with which it is confronted, in a complex spiral and vertiginous way, as described in the paper; (2) that dreams encapsulate kernels of experience into “engrams” by constantly searching for ways of addressing and readdressing emotional experience.

Aborder le rêve comme une question : Une exploration auto-analytique des fonctions expressives des rêves.L'auteur de cet article suggère que les rêves constituent un moyen expressif par le biais duquel l'appareil psychique définit, construit et communique une question qu'il se doit d'affronter. L'auteur fait ressortir les différences substantielles entre ce mode d'approche et les conceptions plus classiques de la nature et fonction de l'activité onirique. Au lieu de mettre l'accent sur le travail du rêve en tant que système défensif ou bien comme fabrique de rejetons de pulsions inconscientes, l'auteur souligne deux autres aspects de l'activité onirique: (1) Dans et au travers de l'activité onirique, l'appareil psychique a développé une capacité spécifique d'identifier et d'exprimer les questions, problèmes et expériences émotionnelles auxquels il se trouve confronté, et ce, selon des modalités en spirale aussi complexes que vertigineuses, comme en témoignent les descriptions de l'auteur; (2) Les rêves encapsulent des noyaux d'expérience dans des « engrammes », en recherchant constamment les moyens de traiter et de retraiter les expériences émotionnelles.

Betrachtung des Traums als Frage: Eine selbstanalytische Erforschung der Ausdrucksfunktionen von Träumen.Für den Autor sind Träume ein Ausdrucksmittel zur Darstellung, Auslegung und Kommunikation einer Frage, der sich der psychische Apparat gegenübersieht. Es wird aufgezeigt, dass es wesentliche Unterschiede zwischen diesem Ansatz und traditionelleren Auffassungen vom Wesen und der Funktion des Träumens gibt. Statt die Rolle der Traumarbeit als Abwehrsystem oder Ventil für unbewusste Triebe zu betonen, hebt der Autor zwei weitere Aspekte des Träumens hervor: (1) Dass der psychische Apparat im Träumen und durch das Träumen eine spezielle Fähigkeit entwickelt hat, Fragen, Probleme und emotionales Erleben, womit er sich konfrontiert sieht, in komplexen Windungen und auf schwindelerregende Weise zu erkennen und auszudrücken, wie dies in dem Beitrag geschildert wird; (2) dass Träume Erlebniskerne in “Engrammen” zusammenfassen, indem sie ständig nach Wegen suchen, mit dem emotionalen Erleben umzugehen und sich erneut damit auseinanderzusetzen.

Accostarsi al sogno come a una domanda. Un'esplorazione autoanalitica sulle funzioni espressive dei sogni.L'autore suggerisce che i sogni sono dei mezzi di espressione attraverso cui l'apparato psichico delinea, costruisce e comunica una realtà con la quale si trova in quel momento alle prese. Si mostra qui come ci siano importanti differenze tra questo approccio e il modo più classico di intendere la natura e le funzioni del sogno. Anziché soffermarsi sulla natura difensiva del lavoro del sogno, o sul suo rappresentare il prodotto di pulsioni inconsce, l'autore evidenzia due aspetti ulteriori: (1) che con il sogno e attraverso il sogno l'apparato psichico ha sviluppato una capacità specifica di individuare ed esprimere le questioni, i problemi e le esperienze emotive con cui di volta in volta si confronta, in un processo vertiginoso e spiraliforme la cui complessità è pure descritta nell'articolo; (2) che i sogni racchiudono dei noccioli di esperienza all'interno di “engrammi” cercando costantemente dei modi per affrontare e riaffrontare le esperienze emotive.

Abordaje del sueño como cuestión: una exploración autoanalítica sobre su función expresiva.El autor sugiere que el sueño es un medio expresivo a través del cual el aparato psíquico delinea, construye y comunica una cuestión a la que se enfrenta. Se muestra que existen diferencias sustantivas entre este enfoque y las formas más clásicas de entender la naturaleza y la función del soñar. En vez de poner énfasis en el trabajo del sueño como sistema de defensa o como válvulas de escape de pulsiones inconscientes, el autor destaca dos aspectos adicionales del soñar: (1) que en el sueño y a través de él, el aparato psíquico desarrolla la capacidad específica de identificar y expresar cuestiones, problemas y experiencias emocionales a los que enfrenta, en una espiral compleja y vertiginosa como la que se describe en el artículo; (2) que los sueños encapsulan núcleos de experiencia en “engramas” mediante la búsqueda constante de maneras de abordar y volver a enfrentar la experiencia emocional.

KEYWORDS:

• Dream
• self analysis
• infantile
• question
• emotional experience
• confrontation

Notes

1 Evidently there are others, such as Winnicott, Fairbairn, etc.

2 “The hungry or longing or distressed infant feels actual sensations in his mouth or limbs or his viscera, which mean to him that certain things are being done to him or that he is doing such and such as he wishes, or fears. He feels as if he were doing so and so” (Isaacs 1948, 86, emphasis added).

3 I call the existing object that which is available, that which is possible, the findable; it contrasts with that which had been planned or anticipated for the relationship.

4 The question of whether self-analysis reveals unconscious material or necessarily remains within the borders of the unconscious is a complex one and beyond the scope of this work. As I have pointed out, this article has as its point of departure the shift of emphasis from drive theory to object relations theory. In a very simplified manner this shift could be understood as the fact that the object ceases to be viewed as the goal of the drive in order to become a social being anthropomorphically conceived. The Freudian concept of the unconscious is implicit in the Kleinian concept of an internal world that is referential to the work.

5 This situation is a clear example of what Britton (2015) calls the belief function, that “is to give the status of fact to an idea or a fantasy”, in other words, leading the subject to treat a belief as a fact.

6 Take, for example, the support given by the handymen and the cautions, by way of evaluation and orientation, given by the interlocutors on the side streets.