An Exploration Into The Induction Of Greater Reflectiveness And "Lucidity" In Nocturnal Dream Reports

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the availability of "lucid dreaming" to a sample comprised of individuals with a wide variety of previous dream work experience. Defined as the experience of becoming aware that one is dreaming during the dream itself, lucid dreaming has been regarded as a potentially therapeutic experience which, if inducible in counseling clients and self-directed dream students, could serve as a valuable therapeutic and growth tool.;A sample of voluntary subjects was obtained from the membership of the Association for Research and Enlightenment, in Virginia Beach, Virginia. This population was chosen because of their interest in dream work and personal development--qualities that would characterize a counseling client who might be ready for such in-depth dream work.;Two induction strategies were tested, one based on reliving and revising a past, unpleasant dream, as though the subject were lucid; and the other based on writing an essay titled, "Why I want to Have Lucid Dreams." A delayed-treatment control group was also employed.;The resultant dreams were rated on an original scale to assess the level of lucidity, and an original scale designed to assess aspects constructive dreamer process, including interaction, role changes, constructive behavior, and critical self-reflectiveness.;It was concluded that lucid dreams were available through induction strategies to a large proportion of the subjects, regardless of their previous experience. When the individual treatments were compared, the dream of reliving subjects produced higher, albeit non-significant levels of all criterion measures, and achieved significantly higher levels on non-lucid constructive dreamer process.