Amplification Method

Jung employed the method of amplification for interpreting dreams. This

technique involved focusing repeatedly on the contents of the dream and

giving multiple associations to them. Jung believed that the dream often is

basically what it appears to be. This differs dramatically from Freudian interpretation,

which requires the patient to associate dream elements with

childhood conflicts.

The amplification method can be applied to a dream reported by a graduate

student in clinical psychology. While preparing to defend his dissertation,

the final and most anxiety-provoking aspect of receiving the doctorate,

the student had a dream about his oral defense. Before presenting the project

to his dissertation committee that was to evaluate its worth (and seemingly

his own), the student dreamed that he was in the bathroom gathering

his resources. He noticed he was wearing a three-piece brown suit; however,

none of the pieces matched. They were different shades of brown. Fortunately,

the pieces were reversible, so the student attempted to change them

so they would all be the same shade. After repeated attempts he was unable

to get all three pieces of the suit to be the same shade of brown. He finally

gave up in despair and did not appear for his defense. With a little knowledge

about the student, an analytical therapist would have an easy time with

the meaning of this dream. This was obviously a stressful time in the young

man’s life, and the dream reflected his denied anxiety. In addition, the student

did not like brown suits; to him, a brown suit that did not match was

even more hideous. It is apparent that he was unhappy and, despite his best

attempts to portray confidence, the budding clinician was afraid that he was

going to “look stupid.” Jung would have encouraged him to face these fears

of failure that were hidden in his unconscious.