The emotional content of dreams.
Item
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Title
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The emotional content of dreams.
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Identifier
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AAI3310598
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identifier
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3310598
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Creator
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Goelitz, Ann.
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Contributor
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Adviser: Michael J. Smith
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Date
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2008
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Language
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English
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Publisher
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City University of New York.
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Subject
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Social Work | Psychology, Clinical
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Abstract
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The analysis of dreams is often crucial in clinical work with trauma survivors and other populations who have experienced life-altering events. Dreamwork can be beneficial for survivors when done in a way that allows safe access to trauma and emotional content. This exploratory study is the first to use two major dream content scales on a dataset of trauma and general dreams.;The study hypothesized that: (1) dreams of trauma survivors contain more emotions than dreams of non-trauma survivors, (2) dreams of trauma survivors contain more intense emotions than dreams of non-trauma survivors, (3) dreams of survivors of human designed traumas contain more emotions than survivors of traumas not of human design and (4) dreams of survivors of human designed traumas contain more intense emotions than survivors of traumas not of human design. It also tested a fifth hypothesis that the two scales used for the study, the Hartmann and Hall/Van de Castle scales, would obtain similar results.;The first two hypotheses were confirmed by study results. Not only was association found between trauma and emotion/emotion intensity, but also with powerful negative emotions and negative emotions (helplessness, fear, disgust, anger and guilt). Negative dream interactions (danger and attack) were significantly associated to being a trauma survivor as well. In addition, positive emotions (power and awe) and a positive interaction (sexuality) had significant association to trauma.;There were significant differences in emotions when comparing by trauma type but no significant differences in emotion intensity, confirming the third hypothesis but not the fourth. There were significant associations to dream elements for both survivors of human designed trauma (success and awe) and trauma not of human design (helplessness and disgust).;The study findings replicated Hartmann's, the researcher who has done the most work in this area, confirming his results. However, the two scales used for the study did not obtain similar results, disconfirming hypothesis five.;The study outcomes engender both research and practice implications. As awareness of trauma grows, practice guidelines are essential to clinicians. Nightmares and other highly charged dreams are signals that intervention is required. This study provides a direction for these clinical interventions that can be utilized in different practice settings, augmenting both their efficacy and the recovery process.
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Type
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dissertation
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Source
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PQT Legacy CUNY.xlsx
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degree
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Ph.D.
