The Dream Drawing Technique: First Data on Differential Effects of Drawn and Written Reporting of Dream Content

Abstract

It has often been asserted that the drawing of one's dreams will aid in producing more vivid, more interpretable, and clearer dream content. However, the literature on using dream drawings to enhance interpretation and meaningfulness has been limited to descriptive and narrative accounts. This study compared the recorded dreams of 69 participants who were asked to either write, write then draw, or draw then write an account of a recent dream. Quantitative results revealed no significant and meaningful difference between these three conditions. In the qualitative results, variation between individual subjects was much greater than between groups. Factors such as artistic ability and personal understanding of one's dream appeared to be important factors when using drawings of dreams. This first report of empirical results failed to provide systematic, research-based support for the use of dream drawings to enhance understanding and interpretation of dreams. The many proponents of dream drawings should reconsider their routine advocacy of this subjective methodology.