// Dream recall

Question 1

Memory process explanation

Answer 1

STM and LTM

Distraction

Stress

Dream disorganisation

Recall problems (suggested by spontaneous or cue-related daytime dream recall)

Question 2

STM and LTM

Answer 2

Corey 1975

• frequent dream recallers have better STM and LTM, including visual and incidental memory

Balgrove 2000

• no association found between individual differences in memory and dream recall rate

Question 3

Distraction

Answer 3

Cohen 1973

• phoning the weather bureau upon waking decreased dream recall

Question 4

Stress

Answer 4

Goodenough 1974

• stress worsens recall of field dependent individuals
• field dependency = trait inability to ignore irrelevant background stimuli

Cohen 1972

• stress reduces non-frequent recallers’ recall but increases frequent recallers’ recall
• dreaming of their stress?

Question 5

Content centred explanation

Answer 5

Freud - repression

Whitman 1973

• people report different dreams to lab staff than to psychotherapists

Salience hypothesis

• frequent recallers have more salient dreams (more vivid, exciting)
• ☹ difficult to test - can’t know that non-recalled dreams are less salient
• Snyder 1960 - respiratory irregulation related to increased recall
  
  • irregulation because of exciting dream content?

Question 6

Individual differences affecting dream recall

Answer 6

1. Absorption
2. Creativity
3. Thin-boundariness
4. Attitudes toward sleep
5. Attachment style

Question 7

Individual differences

Absorption

Answer 7

• how absorbed you get into books, films etc.
• Higher absorption = more likely to recall dreams
• pay more attention? Better at re-telling?

Question 8

Individual differences

Creativity

Answer 8

Schechter 1965

• art students have higher recall rate than engineering students
• assuming subject choice reflects creativity

Question 9

Individual differences

Thin-boundariness

Answer 9

Hartmann

• Measure of sensitivity to stimuli, openness to ambiguity and experience, creativity
• higher thin-boundariness = higher recall, more nightmares, more bizarre dreams
• ☹ controlling for dream length (words) removes relationship
  
  • thin-boundaried people have recall longer dreams?
  • have more bizarre dreams which require more words to describe?
• unclear if it affects dream production or recall

Question 10

Individual differences

Attitudes toward sleep

Answer 10

Zadra 2007

• People who have more positive attitude toward dreams recall more – pay more attention?
• Cause and effect ☹

Question 11

Individual differences

Attachment

Answer 11

McNamara 2001

• higher dream recall frequency and length for insecure than secure attachment
• Theorises that REM sleep promotes attachment