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Neuroticism and dreaming sleep: A case for interactionism in personality research
Author(s) -
Cohen David B.
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
british journal of social and clinical psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.479
H-Index - 92
eISSN - 2044-8260
pISSN - 0007-1293
DOI - 10.1111/j.2044-8260.1977.tb00211.x
Subject(s) - psychology , neuroticism , dream , situational ethics , trait , sleep (system call) , personality , interactionism , developmental psychology , big five personality traits , cognitive psychology , social psychology , psychotherapist , sociology , computer science , anthropology , programming language , operating system
The value of a trait approach to sleep and dreaming characteristics is evaluated by reviewing recent research on differential patterns and interactions manifest by high and low neuroticism subjects. Differential patterning of dream content and REM sleep characteristics under positive and negative presleep conditions suggest a qualitative difference in experience and behavior, and a quantitative difference in ‘importance’ attributable to the dreaming sleep process. It is hypothesized that, under ‘normal’ conditions, low neuroticism individuals make more exclusive use of the dreaming period, while under ‘artificial’ conditions, they demonstrate a greater motivation to compensate for restricted REM by intensification of the REM process (shortened REM onset latencies, greater REM rebound, intensified dream experiences). Finally, it is suggested that theories of dreaming sleep should recognize the importance of traits, as well as situational factors to the psychology of dreaming sleep.