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Latent Content

Definition

Latent content refers to the underlying meaning or interpretation of a dream – often revealing deeper feelings and unconscious thoughts.

Analogy

If manifest content is like watching a movie, latent content is akin to analyzing that movie for hidden themes or messages. It’s what film critics do when they interpret symbolism or subtext in movies.

Theoretical Perspectives

Latent content pertains to the hidden psychological meanings of dreams, as per Sigmund Freud's psychoanalytic theory. It represents unconscious desires and thoughts symbolized in dream imagery.

Study And Research Findings

Study and Research Findings

Related terms

Unconscious Mind: The part of mental processing that we're not aware of but influences our behaviors and perceptions. Like a scriptwriter working behind-the-scenes on our 'movie'.

Psychoanalysis: A therapeutic technique focused on bringing unconscious material into conscious awareness to better understand psychological disorders. It’s similar to how film critics analyze movies.

Symbolism: The use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities. In dreams (or movies), certain objects or characters might symbolize deeper concepts or feelings.