Absorption in imaginings, sex-role orientation, and the recall of dreams by males and females.
N P Spanos, H J Stam, H L Radtke, M E Nightingale
Journal of personality assessment June 1980 DOI: 10.1207/s15327752jpa4403_10 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Male and female college students |
| Topics | Dreaming |
| Key findings | Absorption was the most important predictor of dream variables in female college students, while in males femininity (sex-role orientation contrary to stereotype) was the only variable significantly related to a dream variable, namely dream recall frequency. The authors discuss implications of these sex differences for dream recall research. |
Abstract
Questionnaire measures of dream recall frequency, number of sensory qualities in dreams and emotion in dreams were correlated with several imaginal ability and personality variables in male and female college students. Absorption (i.e., subjects' degree of involvement in such activities as daydreaming, watching a movie, etc.) was the most important predictor of dream variables in females. In males sex-role orientation contrary to stereotype (i.e., femininity) was the only variable significantly related to a dream variable (i.e., frequency of dream recall). The implications of these sex differences for research on dream recall are discussed.