The Adaptation Function of Dreams and the Waking Work: A Modern Ego Psychology View

Abstract

ABSTRACT This article is about the adaptive function of dreams. It applies Hartmann’s descriptions of autonomous ego functions, especially the synthetic function of the ego, to the dream’s use of reality and to the use of dreams for adaptation; to reality and to neurotic conflict. This paper poses a specific synthetic function of the ego to be called the waking work in which the dream is applied upon awakening to problems of adaptation, growth and development.