Freud’s Interpretation of Dreams: A Reappraisal

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By Susan Sugarman, professor of psychology

Published Dec. 16, 2022

Near the end of the 19th century, Freud published his famous work Interpretation of Dreams. In it he lays out the well-known theory that dreams represent our unfulfilled desires. The now-debunked work actually inspired Sugarman’s interest in Freud’s writings. She tackles the neurologist’s early work in her latest book, Freud’s Interpretation of Dreams (Cambridge University Press). Sugarman gives the text a fresh look and offers her analysis, particularly looking at what the book does and does not achieve, and compares it to Freud’s later writings to see whether the problems she identifies extend to his other work.

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PAW's July/August 2025 issue cover, featuring a photo of people dressed in orange and black, marching in the P-rade, and the headline: Reunions, Back in Orange & Black.
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