The extraordinary characteristic of an erection (in which the penis raises itself against the force of gravity) results in symbolic representation by balloons, airplanes, missiles, and rockets. The manifest content is a result of the dream-work. Freud believed that the manifest content of a dream was a distorted version of the latent content, which was the dreamer's true desire or fear. There are two ways to look at dreams. This is often contrasted with the latent content of the dream, which is what the dream represents or symbolizes. Freud offered several interpretations for such dreams, including the onset of insanity or unresolved oedipal desires. Like a message behind a story, the latent content holds the meaning of a dream. For example, the description of a dream as experienced is known as the manifest content. In a most revelatory manner, manifest content of several dreams is described in which strikingly unusual content (a joke, a cartoon, a parapraxis, the uncanny, a film, a trick, a pun) is shown to be mere razzle dazzle to distract the dreamer from exploring the hidden latent content. As much fun as all of this, always keep in mind that a Freudian analysis of dreams is not simple; it takes many years of training to understand the factors that need to be taken into account to conduct a proper interpretation of dreams. Dream distortions may appear in the following 3 ways: In dreams, condensation occurs when a single dream image carries two or more familiar features. Freud S. The Interpretation of Dreams. Freudian analysis would point out that a suitcase is a vessel that holds other things, and as such, the suitcase represents female genitalia. However, some research does suggest that dreams might be a helpful way to gauge mental well-being. The latent content of dreams refers to the underlying or hidden meaning behind the dream. Old Medication, New Use: Can Prazosin Curb Drinking? Another common form of condensation is when a word combines two or more parts of other words into one. The process of rationalization involves taking all of the many symbols, objects, events, and people that appear in a dream and transforming them into a coherent and understandable dream. When a dream appears confusing and odd, this is the experience of a distortion. To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. Beyond Freud's sexual interpretation of dreams, he theorized that without desire, we cannot dream.