Content analysis of dreams and waking narratives

Bibliographic Data

ID3900587
AuthorsAlfio Maggiolini (0000-0002-5539-6351), Chiara Cagnin, Franca Crippa, Anna Persico, Pietro Rizzi
Year2010
Volume20
Issue1
Pages60-76
Publication date2010-03-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueDreaming (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1053-0797 • E-ISSN: 1573-3351
PublisherAmerican Psychological Association (APA) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1037/a0018824
OpenAlexW2036670709
LanguageEN
Citations received8
References cited9

This study investigated the specificity of dream content and its continuity with waking life. For each subject (125 men and 125 women, between the ages of 19 and 29 years), a dream and a waking episode were collected according to "the most recent dream" method (Hartmann, Elkin, & Garg, 1991), which was also applied to "a recent life episode." Both kinds of narratives were analyzed through the application of the Hall-Van de Castle System (1966) and a typical content analysis (a compendium of the most important typical dream taxonomies). In dreams, typical situations involved the dreamer trying to perform some physical action, most frequently with difficulties in mastering the task. Affective relationships and hostile interactions with an enemy were shared by both narratives, but cognitive activities were uncommon in both cases. © 2010 American Psychological Association

Art · Cognitive psychology · Content (measure theory · Content analysis · Literature · Narrative · Psychoanalysis · Social science · Sociology · Child Therapy and Development · Psychology · Sleep and related disorders · Sleep and Wakefulness Research · Social Psychology