Symbolic representation of colleague in a dream, cooperation and competition

Dream Meaning:Colleague

The colleague in dreams stands for cooperation, for competition, and for the social role we assume. It connects the feeling of community with the drive for recognition. Freud interpreted it as a brother substitute, Jung as the archetype of the companion, spiritual traditions as fellow warriors on the path.

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Dream Interpretation by Freud

Freud interpreted the colleague as a brother substitute and symbol of rivalry (Freud, 1900). The colleague represents the competition for recognition.

Arguing with the colleague shows, according to Freud, the desire for superiority. Helping the colleague represents cooperative impulses.

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Freud, S. (1900). The Interpretation of Dreams. Franz Deuticke, Vienna.

Dream Interpretation by Jung

Jung understood the colleague as the archetype of the companion, as the symbol of community and cooperation (Jung, 1964). The colleague is the fellow traveler.

Whoever sees the colleague in a dream receives a message of cooperation. Jung saw the invitation to examine one's own social relationships.

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Jung, C. G. (1964). Man and His Symbols. Doubleday, New York.

Spiritual Interpretation

In spiritual traditions, the colleague is considered a fellow warrior on the path, the companion who supports and challenges the person.

Dreams with colleagues are read as an invitation to reflect on one's social relationships and seek community.

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Bulkeley, K. (2016). Big Dreams. Oxford University Press. Fromm, E. (1951). The Forgotten Language. Rinehart & Company, New York.

Cognitive Continuity

According to Domhoff, the colleague in dreams reflects cooperation and competition (Domhoff, 2003). It appears when the dreamer experiences professional challenges.

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Domhoff, G.W. (2003). The Scientific Study of Dreams. APA. Domhoff, G.W. (2018). The Emergence of Dreaming. Oxford University Press.

Neurobiology & Emotion

According to Walker, REM sleep activates social memories and attachment processing (Walker, 2017). Colleague dreams arise when the brain links cooperation with emotional states.

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Walker, M. (2017). Why We Sleep. Scribner. Walker, M.P. & van der Helm, E. (2009). Overnight therapy? The role of sleep in emotional brain processing. Psychological Bulletin, 135(5), 731-748.