Examining dream content and meaning of dreams with English and Italian versions of the storytelling method of dream interpretation
Teresa L. DeCicco, Donatella Donati, Mauro Pini
heiDOK (Heidelberg University) January 1, 2012 DOI: 10.11588/ijodr.2012.1.9244 (opens in new tab) via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractDreams and the meanings people find in them differ between Canadian and Italian psychotherapy patients. Thirty Canadian and thirty Italian patients undergoing psychodynamic therapy completed the Storytelling Method of Dream Interpretation in their native language. Dream content and the patients' own discovery passages were analyzed using the Hall and Van de Castle coding system. Results showed differences between the two cultural groups and between genders in both dream content and the interpretations patients generated. The findings support the usefulness of the Storytelling Method for therapy in both English and Italian.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Observational cohort Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 60 |
| Population | Canadian and Italian patients undergoing psychodynamically-oriented psychotherapy |
| Intervention | Storytelling Method of Dream Interpretation |
| Keywords | Dream Storytelling Content measure theory Interpretation philosophy Meaning existential |
| Citations | 6 |
| Key finding | Dream content and discovery passages differ between Canadian and Italian psychotherapy patients, and between genders. |
Abstract
This study extended previous research by comparing dream content and discovery passages from the dreams of Canadian and Italian patients who were undergoing psychodynamically-oriented psychotherapy. Thirty Italians and 30 Canadians (17 males and 13 females) completed The Storytelling Method of Dream Interpretation in either Italian or English. Dream and discovery content was analyzed via the Hall and Van de Castle method and then compared between the two groups, and, between genders. Results support previous findings and provide new insight into the differences in both dreams and discovery between the two groups. Results also support the hypothesis that The Storytelling Method is useful and appropriate for use in therapy with both Canadians and Italians in the English and Italian language.