How to Interpret Men's Dreams

Are dreams sources of information to the individual psyche, group consciousness or an inner emotional life? These questions have affected numerous societies, cultures and intellectual movements throughout history. Interpreting men's dreams is partly based on scientific or psychological theory; yet, much of it remains speculative. A good start for such attempted interpretation is to begin with some of the established theory and combine that with past memories, experiences and symbols afforded by a dream encounter.

Instructions

• 1

  Acquaint yourself with classic theory. Perhaps no theories of dream interpretation---for either men or women---have been as controversial or as influential as those espoused in the psychoanalytic tradition; namely, these include the ideas of men like Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung. Each saw dreams as an element of a person or community's unconscious being. Freud, in particular, saw it as a repressed desire or wish, which that unconscious needs to express (See references 3 and 4).

• 2

  Recognize emotions. Men should evaluate a dream for emotional content. Aside from psychoanalysis, many other groups including some native American peoples believed that dreams represented repressed emotions, even those of traumas experienced in one's past. If their dreams have repeated and significant emotional content, you may investigate what past events, either positive or negative, they may be connected to (See references 2 and 3).

• 3

  Collect symbols and images. If dreams, especially recurring ones, have stark images or themes, these may be symbols of meaning. A particular animal, a tidal wave, locations or persons in the dream all may hold significance. To associate these symbols with their meanings, purchase a dream dictionary or locate one online that enumerates commonly experienced symbols in dreams and which suggest correlating reasons for their appearance (See references 1-3).

• 4

  Talk with a therapist. If you have recurring dreams that are disturbing you, you might consider talking to a mental health professional who can help you interpret them. These people, particularly psychoanalysts, have years of training in this area and could prove invaluable human resources for you (See reference 3).