Dream narration and ego identity

Abstract

This article examines the extent to which dream narratives have a special function in the formation of ego identity. The answer to this question is based on a connection of cultural-historical psycholinguistic and psychoanalytical perspectives. To begin with, the importance of narratives for the formation of ego identity is discussed by pointing out that narratives form an interface between external, communicative and internal, self-directed speech processes as well as in the transition from unconscious to conscious processes. Dream narration and their unique access to the unconscious are examined. The special nature of dream narration in relation to narratives of real experiences and narratives of thoughts result in a continuum of different narrative qualities. Dream narratives, due to their more direct access to the unconscious, have their own significance for the formation of ego identity.