Final answer:
Sigmund Freud believed that analyzing a patient's dreams was a way to tap into the patient's unconscious. By interpreting the manifest and latent content of dreams, Freud gained insights into the unconscious mind and helped patients gain self-awareness.
Step-by-step explanation:
Sigmund Freud believed that analyzing a patient’s dreams was a way to tap directly into that patient’s unconscious. According to Freud, the unconscious mind contains repressed memories, desires, and emotions that influence conscious behavior.
By interpreting the manifest content (the storyline) and latent content (the hidden meaning) of dreams, Freud believed he could gain insight into the unconscious mind and help patients gain self-awareness and deal with their problems.