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Dream content and personality: Thick vs. Thin boundaries.

Michael Schredl, Gerard Schäfer, Friedrich Hofmann, Sarah Jacob

Dreaming December 1, 1999 DOI: 10.1023/a:1021336103535 (opens in new tab)

Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Observational study Peer reviewed
Population Young adults
Topics Dreaming
Keywords Dream Content measure theory Personality Psychoanalysis Cognitive psychology Psychotherapist
Citations 61
Key findings Thin boundaries were associated with more frequent dream and nightmare recall, more negative and emotionally intense dreams, more favorable attitudes toward dreams as meaningful and creative, and more frequent dreams of verbal interaction with others.

Abstract

Using dream diary procedures and statistically controlling for age and gender, the present study investigated the relationship between Hartmann's (1991) boundary concept and various aspects of dreaming. Results with a sample of young adults confirmed earlier findings that persons with thin boundaries recall dreams (including nightmares) more often, report dreams that are more negative and emotionally intense, regard their dreams more favorably (i.e., as more meaningful and creative), and dream more frequently of verbal interaction with others.