Debbie's psychoanalyst tells her that the monster in her dream symbolizes her abusive father. He is discussing the dream's

• A. manifest content.
• B. actual content.
• C. latent content.
• D. spiritual context.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the concept of 'latent content' in psychoanalysis, which refers to the hidden psychological meaning of a dream, as opposed to the 'manifest content,' which is the literal storyline of the dream.
2. Recognize that in psychoanalysis, dreams are often interpreted to uncover unconscious desires or thoughts. The latent content is what the dream truly represents beneath its surface.
3. Identify that the psychoanalyst is interpreting the dream by suggesting that the monster symbolizes Debbie's abusive father, which is an example of uncovering latent content.
4. Differentiate between the terms: 'manifest content' (the actual events of the dream), 'latent content' (the symbolic meaning), and 'spiritual context' (which is not typically used in psychoanalytic dream interpretation).
5. Conclude that the psychoanalyst is discussing the latent content of Debbie's dream, as he is interpreting the underlying meaning rather than the dream's literal events.