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Conscious use of dreams in waking life (Nontherapy setting) for decision-making, problem-solving, attitude formation, and behavioral change

Olsen, Michael Rohde ; Schredl, Michael and Carlsson, Ingegerd LU (2020) In Dreaming 30(3). p.257-266
Abstract

The study explored to what extent dreams have been perceived as being helpful in waking life. More specifically, for "important" waking life (conscious) decisionmaking, the solving of emotional or nonemotional (practical/technical/work-related) problems, forming/changing an attitude about something or somebody, or a conscious behavioral change of the dreamer (N = 667). On a general level, 62,1% of participants indicated that dreams at some point had been of help or good use (regression analysis found a strong association with dream attitude, measured on Dream Attitude Scale [DAS]). Most often mentioned areas of help were creative input (55,8%) and emotional problem-solving (52,9%). There was a positive association between dream attitude... (More)

The study explored to what extent dreams have been perceived as being helpful in waking life. More specifically, for "important" waking life (conscious) decisionmaking, the solving of emotional or nonemotional (practical/technical/work-related) problems, forming/changing an attitude about something or somebody, or a conscious behavioral change of the dreamer (N = 667). On a general level, 62,1% of participants indicated that dreams at some point had been of help or good use (regression analysis found a strong association with dream attitude, measured on Dream Attitude Scale [DAS]). Most often mentioned areas of help were creative input (55,8%) and emotional problem-solving (52,9%). There was a positive association between dream attitude (DAS) and emotional problem-solving and creative input. In all, 8.9% of participants reported that a "dream had influenced an important decision" (e.g., leaving a job, moving, buying a house, or leaving the partner). A regression analysis again indicated that a more positive attitude toward dreams (DAS) was associated with dreams influencing important decisions. Higher dream recall was also associated with all mentioned aspects.

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author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Attitude formation, Decision-making, Dreams, Problem-solving
in
Dreaming
volume
30
issue
3
pages
10 pages
publisher
Human Sciences Press, Inc.
external identifiers
  • scopus:85091569113
ISSN
1053-0797
DOI
10.1037/drm0000138
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
0c5d9288-aeb0-4892-8970-9f901292a0b2
date added to LUP
2020-10-27 13:52:07
date last changed
2022-04-19 01:32:01
@article{0c5d9288-aeb0-4892-8970-9f901292a0b2,
  abstract     = {{<p>The study explored to what extent dreams have been perceived as being helpful in waking life. More specifically, for "important" waking life (conscious) decisionmaking, the solving of emotional or nonemotional (practical/technical/work-related) problems, forming/changing an attitude about something or somebody, or a conscious behavioral change of the dreamer (N = 667). On a general level, 62,1% of participants indicated that dreams at some point had been of help or good use (regression analysis found a strong association with dream attitude, measured on Dream Attitude Scale [DAS]). Most often mentioned areas of help were creative input (55,8%) and emotional problem-solving (52,9%). There was a positive association between dream attitude (DAS) and emotional problem-solving and creative input. In all, 8.9% of participants reported that a "dream had influenced an important decision" (e.g., leaving a job, moving, buying a house, or leaving the partner). A regression analysis again indicated that a more positive attitude toward dreams (DAS) was associated with dreams influencing important decisions. Higher dream recall was also associated with all mentioned aspects.</p>}},
  author       = {{Olsen, Michael Rohde and Schredl, Michael and Carlsson, Ingegerd}},
  issn         = {{1053-0797}},
  keywords     = {{Attitude formation; Decision-making; Dreams; Problem-solving}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{3}},
  pages        = {{257--266}},
  publisher    = {{Human Sciences Press, Inc.}},
  series       = {{Dreaming}},
  title        = {{Conscious use of dreams in waking life (Nontherapy setting) for decision-making, problem-solving, attitude formation, and behavioral change}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/drm0000138}},
  doi          = {{10.1037/drm0000138}},
  volume       = {{30}},
  year         = {{2020}},
}