The Value of Subjectivity in the Study of Dreams: An Alternative Methodology in a Quantitative Field

Luiza Bontempo e Silva; Gustavo Beck; Miguel Jaschack

doi:10.29333/ajqr/12792

Luiza Bontempo e Silva ¹ ^* , Gustavo Beck ¹, Miguel Jaschack ¹

More Detail

AM J QUALITATIVE RES, Volume 7, Issue 1, pp. 46-57

https://doi.org/10.29333/ajqr/12792

OPEN ACCESS 652 Views 419 Downloads

Download Full Text (PDF)

Abstract

This article presents original research on the dreams of adults during the first COVID-19 lockdown in Mexico. Subjects went through a series of in-depth clinical interviews where they were asked to share their most recent dream and then explored the dream imagery in conversation with the interviewer to find meaning through an analytic, dialogical process. After gathering the data through the interviews, the authors proceeded to use the narrative method and grounded theory to process the findings. The fundamental objective of the article is to explore the advantages that a qualitative exploration of dreams offers over other methodologies of dream analysis. The article proposes that a qualitative approach has the benefit of validating the dreamer’s experience without generalizing it. This shifts the focus of dream research from the description of categories to the co-creation of meanings with the participants. Additionally, it constitutes an initial attempt to explore and understand the affective and/or cognitive conflicts that underly dream imagery rather than simply mentioning repeating elements within the dream content.

Keywords: dreams, COVID-19, research on dreams, analytical psychology, subjectivity, qualitative research.

References

Barcaro, U. (2022). A reflection on Ernest Hartmann’s equation between the central image in dreams and the objective correlative in poetry. Dreaming. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/drm0000204
Barrett, D. (2020). Dreams about COVID-19 versus normative dreams: Trends by gender. Dreaming, 30(3), 216–221. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/drm0000149
Berry, P. (1982). Echo’s subtle body: Contributions to an archetypal psychology. Spring Publications.
Bilsborrow, G., Davidson, J., & Scott, J. (2009). Exploratory factor analysis of Hartman´s Scale for Central Imagery and its relationship to the dreamer emotion. Dreaming, 19(3), p.187–205. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0017266
Bosnak, R. (1988). A little course in dreams: A basic handbook of Jungian dreamwork. Shambhala.
Bulkeley, K., & Hartmann, E. (2011). Big dreams: An analysis using central image intensity, content analysis, and word searches. Dreaming, 21(3), 157–167. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0024087
Civitarese, G. (2021). Heart of darkness in the courtyard, or dreaming the COVID-19 pandemic. Psychoanalytic Psychology, 38(2), 133–135. https://doi.org/10.1037/pap0000347
Davidson, J., Lee-Archer, S., & Sanders, G. (2005). Dream imagery and emotion. Dreaming, 15(1), 33–47. https://doi.org/10.1037/1053-0797.15.1.33
Domhoff, G. W., & Schneider, A. (2015). Assessing autocorrelation in studies using the Hall and Van de Castle coding system to study individual dream series. Dreaming, 25(1), 70–79. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0038791
Freud, S. (1991). Obras completas: Volumen V (1900-01) [Complete work: Volume ] (J. Strachey, A. Freud, A. Strachey, & A. Tyson, Eds. & J. L., Etcheverry, Trans.). Amorrortu editores. (Original work published 1953)
Freud, S. (1992). Obras completas: Volumen II (1893-1895) [Complete work, Volume II] (J. Strachey, A. Freud, A. Strachey, & A. Tyson, Eds. & J. L., Etcheverry, Trans.).. Amorrortu editores. (Original work published 1955)
Giegerich, W. (2021). Working with dreams: Initiation into the soul’s speaking about itself. Routledge.
Giovanardi, G., Fiorini Bincoletto, A., Baiocco, R., Ferrari, M., Gentile, D., Siri, M., Tanzilli, A., & Lingiardi, V. (2022). Lockdown dreams: Dream content and emotions during the COVID-19 pandemic in an Italian sample. Psychoanalytic Psychology, 39(2), 111–126. https://doi.org/10.1037/pap0000385
Guba, E. G., & Lincoln, Y. S. (2005). Paradigmatic controversies, contradictions, and emerging confluences. In N. K. Denzin & Y. S. Lincoln (Eds.), The SAGE handbook of qualitative research (pp. 191–215). SAGE Publications.
Hartman, E., & Basile, R. (2003). Dream imagery becomes more intense after 9/11/01. Dreaming, 13(2), 61–66. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1023398924124
Hillman, J. (1979). The dream and the underworld. Harper Perennial.
Iorio, I., Sommantico, M., & Parrello, S. (2020). Dreaming in the time of COVID-19: A quali-quantitative Italian study. Dreaming, 30(3), 199–215. https://doi.org/10.1037/drm0000142
MacKay, C., & DeCicco, T. L. (2020). Pandemic dreaming: The effect of COVID-19 on dream imagery, a pilot study. Dreaming, 30(3), 222–234. https://doi.org/10.1037/drm0000148
Margherita, G., Gargiulo, A., Lemmo, D., Fante, C., Filosa, M., Manari, T., Lenzo, V., Quattropani, M. C., Vegni, E., Borghi, L., Castelnuovo, G., Cattivelli, R., Saita, E., Franceschini, C., & Musetti, A. (2021). Are we dreaming or are we awake? A quali–quantitative analysis of dream narratives and dreaming process during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dreaming, 31(4), 373–387. https://doi.org/10.1037/drm0000180
Mota, N. B., Weissheimer, J., Ribeiro, M., de Paiva, M., Avilla-Souza, J., Simabucuru, G., Chaves, M. F., Cecchi, L., Cime, J., Cecchi, G., Rodrigues, C., Copelli, M., & Ribeiro, S. (2020). Dreaming during the Covid-19 pandemic computational assessment of dream reports reveals mental suffering related to fear of contagion. PLoS ONE, 15(11), Article e0242903. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0242903
Peusner, P. (2011). Fundamentos de la clínica psicoanalítica Lacaniana con niños [Foundations of Lacanian psychoanalytic clinic with children]. Letra Viva.
Rimsh, A., & Pietrowsky, R. (2021). Analysis of dream contents of patients with anxiety disorders and their comparison with dreams of healthy participants. Dreaming, 31(4), 303–319. https://doi.org/10.1037/drm0000184
Schredl, M., & Bulkeley, K. (2020). Dreaming and the COVID-19 pandemic: A survey in a U.S. sample. Dreaming, 30(3), 189–198. e
Stake, R. E. (2007). Investigación con estudio de casos [Case study research]. Morata.
Strauss, A., & Corbin, J. (2002). Bases de la investigación cualitativa: Técnicas y procedimientos para desarrollar la teoría fundamentada [Foundations of qualitative research: Techniques and procedures for developing grounded theory]. Contus.
Watkins, M. (1977) Waking dreams. Harper Colophon.

Citation

Bontempo e Silva, L., Beck, G., & Jaschack, M. (2023). The Value of Subjectivity in the Study of Dreams: An Alternative Methodology in a Quantitative Field. American Journal of Qualitative Research, 7(1), 46-57. https://doi.org/10.29333/ajqr/12792

Bontempo e Silva, L., Beck, G., and Jaschack, M. (2023). The Value of Subjectivity in the Study of Dreams: An Alternative Methodology in a Quantitative Field. American Journal of Qualitative Research, 7(1), pp. 46-57. https://doi.org/10.29333/ajqr/12792

Bontempo e Silva L, Beck G, Jaschack M. The Value of Subjectivity in the Study of Dreams: An Alternative Methodology in a Quantitative Field. AM J QUALITATIVE RES. 2023;7(1), 46-57. https://doi.org/10.29333/ajqr/12792

Bontempo e Silva, Luiza, Gustavo Beck, and Miguel Jaschack. "The Value of Subjectivity in the Study of Dreams: An Alternative Methodology in a Quantitative Field". American Journal of Qualitative Research 2023 7 no. 1 (2023): 46-57. https://doi.org/10.29333/ajqr/12792

Bontempo e Silva, Luiza et al. "The Value of Subjectivity in the Study of Dreams: An Alternative Methodology in a Quantitative Field". American Journal of Qualitative Research, vol. 7, no. 1, 2023, pp. 46-57. https://doi.org/10.29333/ajqr/12792

Bontempo e Silva L, Beck G, Jaschack M. The Value of Subjectivity in the Study of Dreams: An Alternative Methodology in a Quantitative Field. AM J QUALITATIVE RES. 2023;7(1):46-57. https://doi.org/10.29333/ajqr/12792