US High School Psychology Practice Exam 2026 - Free Practice Questions and Study Guide

Freud identified the hidden or true meaning of dreams as "latent content." This concept is central to his psychoanalytic theory, which posits that dreams are not only reflections of our conscious thoughts but also carry deeper meanings that relate to our unconscious desires and conflicts. In Freud's view, the latent content is the underlying symbolization of the dream, which may represent repressed wishes or unresolved issues from one's past.

Freud distinguished this from "manifest content," which refers to the literal storyline or imagery of the dream that one remembers upon waking. The manifest content serves as a disguise or a mask for the latent content, allowing for the expression of desires in a socially acceptable form. Understanding this distinction is crucial for analyzing dreams within the framework of Freudian psychoanalysis.

The other terms do not align with Freud's terminology regarding dream analysis; "cognitive content" and "emotional content" are not recognized concepts in his dream theory. They refer more broadly to aspects of mental processes and feelings rather than the specific structure of dreams.