Unconscious Narratives: Psychiatry and the Language of Dreams in Fiction
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.69980/ajpr.v27i2.500Keywords:
Psychiatry, Psychology, Dreams, Narrative therapy, LiteratureAbstract
The relationship between psychiatry and literature is profound and multidimensional. Literature has long served as a mirror to psychological struggles, offering insight into the inner lives of characters, reflecting societal views on mental health, and creating empathy for those who suffer from various disorders. Narrative therapy or story telling can be powerful tools for healing and recovery, helping individuals’ process trauma and build resilience. Literature can raise awareness about mental health disorders, reducing stigma and promoting understanding. Dreams reflect our fears, desires, memories, and even help us solve problems. From Freud’s unconscious wishes to cognitive theories of memory, dreams provide a unique and deeply personal insight into the human mind. Though dreams can appear random or strange, psychologists believe they serve specific cognitive and emotional functions. Dreams serve as literary devices that deepen character psychology, explore philosophical or moral issues, foreshadow events, and connect texts to cultural or collective meanings. Modern psychology views dreams as complex interactions between personal experiences, unconscious processes, cognitive functioning and cultural context.
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