Thematic analysis of war dreams: An eight-year series
Reean Jyka P. Corral
International Journal of Dream Research January 26, 2026 DOI: 10.11588/ijodr.2026.2.114976 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Qualitative study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1 |
| Population | The author's own dreams (19 war-related dreams recorded from 2017 to 2025) |
| Duration | Dreams recorded from 2017 to 2025 |
| Key findings | Four themes characterized the 19 war-related dreams: role, agency, weaponry, and ending. The author reports that media consumption (books and social media) appeared to shape dream imagery and that dream metaphors served symbolic interpretation. The author proposes that war-related dreams function both as reflections of external stimuli and as symbolic processing of conflict, and notes the single-participant design limits generalizability. |
Abstract
This study analyzed 19 war-related dreams recorded by the author from 2017 to 2025 using Braun and Clarke’s (2006) thematic analysis framework. Four primary themes were identified: role (civilian, observer, terrorist), agency (low, medium, high), weaponry (firearms, explosives), and ending (unknown, escape, victory). Results indicate that media consumption, including books and social media, appeared to shape dream imagery. Additionally, dream metaphors reveal symbolic interpretations of dreams, from latent imagery to helping make sense of seemingly illogical and non-linear dream content. These findings suggest that war-related dreams function both as reflections of external stimuli and as symbolic processing of conflict in the dream consciousness. While the single-participant methodology restricts generalizability, the findings are consistent with previous studies suggesting that war-related dreams can occur in those who have not been directly exposed to the conflict and can be influenced by media exposure.