1. Manifest Latent Dreams: Dreams are composites of symbols derived from recent and remote memories and formed by the current feelings, attitudes, and motivations of the individual. Shaped by the immediate psychological needs of the sleeper, manifest latent dreams are distortions of life experiences in accordance with the regressive thinking processes that prevail during sleep.

2. Manifest Content: Formed as a composite of recent and distant memories, this is the apparent content of the dream. Actually, it provides a mask for events that conceal the latent meaning of a dream.

3. Latent Content: Underlying thoughts, desires, and fantasies related to the emotional reactions of early infancy; latent content gives a dream its fundamental meaning.

4. Dream Work: This is a process whereby latent dream content becomes apparent. An individual gains understanding of the fundamental meaning of a dream by exploring early experiences, attitudes toward parents and siblings, and defenses and conditionings, as well as emotionally charged current life experiences, interpersonal dynamics, and repressed unconscious impulses.