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Partners and Ex-Partners in Dreams: A Diary Study
Michael Schredl1, Lara C Wood1
1Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Postfach 12 21 20, 68072 Mannheim, Germany.
Clocks & Sleep
|June 2, 2021
Summary
Dreams about current romantic partners are more frequent than those about ex-partners, supporting the continuity hypothesis. Ex-partner dreams, while less frequent, contain more positive emotions than partner dreams.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Dream Research
- Relationship Studies
Background:
- Romantic relationships are central to human experience.
- The continuity hypothesis of dreaming suggests frequent dream content related to important life aspects.
- Understanding dream content can offer insights into waking life relationships and their dissolution.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the frequency and emotional tone of dreams featuring current romantic partners versus ex-partners.
- To test the continuity hypothesis of dreaming in the context of romantic relationships.
- To explore the psychological significance of dreams about romantic partnerships and break-ups.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 1612 dream reports from 425 students.
- Quantitative comparison of dream content related to partners and ex-partners.
- Qualitative assessment of emotional tone in dream interactions.
Main Results:
- Partner dreams were significantly more frequent than ex-partner dreams, supporting the continuity hypothesis.
- Dream interactions with ex-partners were more frequently negative compared to partner dreams.
- Unexpectedly, ex-partner dreams exhibited more positive emotions and friendliness than partner dreams, suggesting partner dreams are more mundane.
Conclusions:
- Dream content accurately reflects significant aspects of romantic partnerships and their endings.
- Dream analysis can serve as a valuable tool in psychotherapy for processing relationship dynamics.
- The emotional complexity of ex-partner dreams warrants further investigation into their psychological function.
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