Out of Control Emotions

No matter what your cognitive functional stack is, some of the most common dreams involve overpowering emotions. However, the symbolic representation of those inner conflicts generally take on a different flavor depending upon the individual's preferred cognitive functions.

For example, Fi dominant individuals tend to have dreams about being overwhelmed or engulfed. Perhaps, the Fi dominant person dreams constantly about being in the ocean or chased by a cannibal. The Fi function, until it is fully mature, may tend to have dreams about overpowering emotions that are not yet labeled or fully articulated in waking life. As a result, the individual may frequently dream about some unknown enemy that is chasing them or some shadowy force that is overtaking them. Resolution to such recurring dreams, will more than likely come from facing up to their emotions and articulating them. However, many of the dreams of Fi individuals will tend to involve the coping strategy of avoidance, until the Fi person learns to master their dominant process.

Individuals with a Ti function tend to have dreams involving psychic conflict, however, the source of conflict is usually represented in a detached way. The thinking function copes with conflict by objectifying the source of conflict. As a result, many Ti dominant individuals will have dreams in which the conflict involves destruction of objects, the zombie apocalypse or alien abductions. Rather than the shadowy, unrecognizable figures of the Fi-dominant dreams, individuals with Ti clearly identify and objectify the source of conflict. The result is dreams that either have a comedic element (fighting against a 30 lb rat) or a dream that has the flavor of a science fiction novel. The threat is so threatening because it represents an aberration of the Ti-individuals interior method of classification and analysis.

The conflict of Ti dreams is often resolved when the thinker is able to revise their method of classification in order to accommodate new information. Until that happens, the Ti individual needs to view this aberration of reality from a completely objective standpoint. This results in dreams that are viewed from the third person or the dreams may involve familiar elements with one nonsensical feature that is emphasized. The dreams tend to emphasize how the source of conflict currently does not make sense within the Ti's classification system for understanding reality.