Description
Book SynopsisThis book aims to present a study on the actuality and empirical value of Freuds dream theory, even if through the analysis of a specific part of it - the hypotheses about childrens dreams. It provides a systematic description of Freuds observations on child dreaming and presents the results obtained from four empirical studies on childrens dreams that the author conducted during the span of a decade. These studies (two conducted in school settings, one in a home setting, and one based on a questionnaire completed by parents) allow an empirical judgment on Freuds main hypotheses on child dreaming: the hypotheses on formal aspect of childrens dreams, the relationship between dream bizarreness and development of the superego functions, and the issue of wish-fulfilment dreams. The author concludes that it is possible to test empirically Freuds hypothesis on the early forms of dreaming and that this test is not irrelevant for an empirical judgment of certain more general statements of Freuds dream theory (e.g. the dream censorship hypothesis). Finally, the implications of the studies on childrens dreams for modern dream research and theory are discussed.
Trade Review'OK, psychoanalytic ideas are too complicated to test, right? Claudio Colace is a member of the vanguard of neuropsychoanalysts who are establishing metapsychology's scientific base. In a brilliantly conceived and executed series of studies Colace shows how superego development between ages three and eight changes the nature of dreams from clear wish fulfillment to bizarrely disguised expressions of motivation.'- Brian Johnson, Department of Psychiatry, State University of New York Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA'The study of dreams poses intriguing problems about relations between philosophy, psychology, and neuroscience. Claudio Colace's book is one of the most original and significant works in recent dream science. Colace has undertaken a sophisticated programme of research on young children's dreams over a period of ten years: he argues convincingly that central psychoanalytic hypotheses, on topics such as narrative complexity, bizarreness, and motivation in dreams, can thus be rigorously tested. This rich and provocative book will interest historians and philosophers of science, developmental psychologists, affect theorists, neuropsychoanalysts, and all students of dreaming.'- John Sutton, Macquarie Centre for Cognitive Science, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.ContentsPart One: An Attempt of Systematic Description of Freud's Observations on Children's Dreams1 An Overview of Freud's Writings on Children's Dreams2 How Freud Studies Child Dreams: Methodology and Samples3 The Characteristics of Children's Dreams Described by Freud4 Are Freud's Hypotheses on Child Dreams Empirically Controllable?Part Two: Actuality and Empirical Evaluation of Freud's Observations on Children's Dreams5 Modern Dream Research in a Developmental Age: Methodological and General Aspects6 Studies on Dreams in The Developmental Age: 1989-19997 Formal Characteristics of Children's Dreams8 Bizarreness in Children's Dreams and the Development of Superego Functions9 Wish Fulfilment in Children's Dreams10 Child Dream Evolution: a Longtitudinal Observation11 ConclusionsAbout the Author
Table of ContentsIntroduction: Freud’s dream theory and modern dream research -- An Attempt to Systematically Describe Freud’s Observations on Children’s Dreams -- An overview of Freud’s writings on children’s dreams -- How Freud studied children’s dreams: method and samples -- The characteristics of children’s dreams described by Freud -- Are Freud’s hypotheses on children’s dreams empirically testable? -- Empirical Evaluation of Freud’s Observations on Children’s Dreams -- Dream research in children: general and methodological aspects -- Four studies on children’s dreams -- Formal characteristics of children’s dreams -- Bizarreness in children’s dreams and the development of superego functions -- Wish-fulfilment in children’s dreams -- Child dream development: a longitudinal observation -- Implications for dream research and theory
