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ABSTRACT

Factors of dream recall

Michael Schredl, Ph. D.
Sleep laboratory, Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim, Germany
Since 1990 working on the field of dream research.
e-mail: Schredl@as200.zi-mannheim.de

Summary: Researchers have investigated a large variety of factors which might be associated with dream recall frequency. The present investigation was designed to determine the magnitude of influence of different factors (personality factors, creativity, visual memory, stress and sleep behavior) and the interaction between them.

Learning objectives: 1. The most important factors associated with the variation of dream recall are frequency of nocturnal awakenings, creativity, thin boundaries/absorption, visual memory, stress and attitude towards dreams. 2. Comprehensive studies on this topic have not yet been carried out. 3. The empirical data support the arousal-retrieval model of dream recall.

Factors of Dream Recall
Michael Schredl
Sleep laboratory, Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim, Germany

Researchers have investigated a large variety of factors which might be associated with dream recall frequency. These factors can be classified into trait and state factors (Schredl & Montasser, 1996-97). The findings indicate that the following factors are of importance to explain the interindividual as well as the intraindividual variation in dream recall: frequency of nocturnal awakenings (poor sleep quality), thick vs. thin boundaries/absorption (trait factors), visual memory, fantasy/creativity, stress and attitude towards dreams. The data seems to support the arousal-retrieval model of Koulack and Goodenough (1976) and partly the life-style hypothesis of Schonbar (1965).
Although quite a lot of studies on dream recall have been published, a comprehensive study including all the above mentioned factors has not yet been carried out. The present investigation was designed to close this gap in order to determine the magnitude of influence of each factor and the interaction between them.

Method. After completing three different tasks measuring visual memory, participants were asked to complete a variety of questionnaires: sleep questionnaires, dream questionnaires (dream recall, attitude towards dreams etc.), stress scales, questionnaires for measuring creative activity and fantasy, personality inventory (NEO-PI-R), boundary questionnaire, Tellegen Absorption Scale and a dream diary of a two-week period. At the present, 235 persons were included. Mean age was 24.1 ± 4.3 yr. There were 198 females and 37 males.

Results. The results of about 400 participants will be presented at the conference.

References
Koulack, D., & Goodenough, D. R. (1976). Dream recall and dream recall failure: an arousal-retrieval model. Psychological Bulletin, 83, 975-984.
Schonbar, R. A. (1965). Differential dream recall frequency as a component of "life style". Journal of Consulting Psychology, 29, 468-474.
Schredl, M., & Montasser, A. (1996-97a). Dream recall: state or trait variable? Part I: model, theories, methodology and trait factors. Imagination, Cognition and Personality, 16, 181-210, 231-261.