Personality Correlates of Flying Dreams
Imagination Cognition and Personality October 1, 2007 DOI: 10.2190/ic.27.2.d (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional survey Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 444 |
| Population | Students |
| Topics | Lucid dreaming |
| Keywords | Neuroticism Extraversion and introversion Openness to experience Personality Recall Developmental psychology Cognitive psychology Psychotherapist |
| Citations | 21 |
| Key findings | Flying dreams were related to low neuroticism, openness to experience, boundary thinness, dream recall frequency, and playing an instrument. The authors indicate that psychological factors play a role, supporting the continuity hypothesis at the level of emotions. |
Abstract
Despite the fact that flying unaided is not possible in waking life, flying dreams have been reported fairly often. Over the centuries, a large number of scientists have speculated about the etiology of such dreams. Their occurrence in a student sample ( N = 444) was related to low neuroticism, openness to experience, boundary thinness, dream recall frequency and playing an instrument. The findings of the present study indicate that psychological factors play a role in the explanation of flying dreams. This does not completely rule out any of the physiological theories. The traits associated with flying dreams positively support the continuity hypothesis at the level of emotions. Future studies should measure the current frequency of flying dreams and correlate this variable with the dreamer's current emotional state in waking life.