The implicit theory of dreams: An exploratory study in the cultural context of Malabar
Rushidha Pookkodan, Kiran Sivan, Arup K. Chatterjee
International Journal of Dream Research May 28, 2024 DOI: 10.11588/ijodr.2026.2.105014 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Qualitative study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 13 |
| Population | People born and raised in Malabar, Northern Kerala, India |
| Key findings | The authors identify a dual-model typology of dream beliefs in Malabar: a Meaningful/Functional register and a Physiological/Irrelevant register. They argue these registers coexist in a 'Syncretic Complex Model' where mythologies, religious beliefs, and modern scientific narratives intersect, and propose that such implicit theories function as a psychological strategy for navigating ambivalent modernity. |
Abstract
While dreaming is a universal psychological activity, the implicit theories of dreams – defined as the lay beliefs and cognitive schemas regarding the nature and function of dreaming – are embedded in local cultural epistemologies. This study employs a Grounded Theory approach to explore the implicit theories of dreams in Malabar, a historically and culturally distinct region in Northern Kerala, on the southwestern coast of India. The study’s data was acquired from semi-structured interviews with 13 participants; all of them, born and raised in Malabar. The data was then supplemented with secondary accounts from history, mythology, and religion. The findings reveal a dual-model typology consisting of (1) a Meaningful/Functional register and (2) a Physiological/Irrelevant register. These registers coexist within a Syncretic Complex Model – a cognitive framework where mythologies, religious beliefs, and modern scientific narratives intersect. This research suggests that such implicit theories function as a psychological strategy for navigating ambivalent modernity where traditional and scientific epistemologies coexist. The outcome of the study is relevant for cultural oneirology, psychotherapy, and cultural-psychological investigations into the culture and dreams of Malabar.