A technique originally used in psychoanalysis
whereby the contents of dreams are analyzed for underlying or disguised
motivations, symbolic meanings, or evidence of symbolic representations. In
typical dream analysis the individual relates a dream and then free associates
about it with the aim of deriving insight into underlying dynamics. Freud,
quoting the old proverb, "pigs dream of acorns and geese dream of maize,"
assumed that dreams were expressions of wish-fulfillment. However, according to
the standard theory, since most wishes had been repressed, the deep meaning of
dreams (dream content) had to be interpreted through a veil of censorship,
disguise and
symbolism.