SHORT-TERM EFFECTS OF STRATEGIES FOR SELF-REGULATION ON PERSONALITY DIMENSIONS AND DREAM CONTENT

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Abstract
A pretest-posttest experimental design with 13 male subjects was used to test the hypothesis that strategies for self-regulation (Transcendental Meditation and relaxation) would induce psychological changes accompanied by corresponding alterations in dream content. During a 5 wk period, 7 subjects practiced the official meditation technique and 6 subjects used a relaxation procedure. Before and after this period, subjects spent 3 nights in the sleep laboratory (1 adaptation and 2 REM [rapid eye movement] for dream collection). Another 5 wk period followed the 2nd lab session during which time subjects terminated the practice of their respective techniques. Throughout the study (two 5 wk periods), subjects recorded their dreams at home. In the psychological variables, there was a decrease from pretest to posttest in anxiety, a marginally significant decrease in trait anxiety and an increase in ego strength noted for both groups. The dream dimensions showing significant change for both groups were increases in fantasy elements related to personal life, bizarreness and dream recall, while a marginally significant increase was noted for misfortune transformed to good fortune and a decrease in aggressive dream mood. Apparently there is no major difference between the effectiveness of Transcendental Meditation and relaxation techniques in producing psychological change. As for the findings on the dream content dimensions, they support the notion of continuity between waking and dreaming activity.

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