Research Paper Psy

Resumo

The purpose of this study was to develop a dreamwork model that would help individuals deal with relationship issues. Seventy dreams, involving seven major relationships, were selected from the woman participant’s dreams. A dream interpretation model, the Personalized Method for Interpreting Dreams (PMID) was developed. Well-founded concepts in the PMID are: 1) dreams reflect emotions; and, 2) pre-dream thoughts, current circumstances, and personal definitions build dream meanings. The newest dreamwork concept of the PMID is the systemic perspective that relationship issues are best understood by discovering how relationship experiences influence our thoughts, emotions and behavior in other relationships. With a dreamwork systemic approach, the individual gathers together and studies series of dreams about major relationships in his or her life, primarily the family. Results of the thesis study show that the participant’s use of the model was a factor in reducing stressful relationship issues.

When I began this study I expected that dream content, correctly understood, would accurately reflect changes in emotion over time. I also expected that the use of dream interpretations would reflect suggestions for understanding and reducing relationship issues. However, I did not anticipate the extent of interconnected influences found from one relationship to another, the systemic effects.

A dreamwork systems approach for utilizing dreams to resolve relationship issues is mindful of recent family systemic models, except instead of having the family together in a counseling session an individual gathers together and studies his/her dreams about various major relationships, primarily the family.

Support for the Qualitative Case Study Approach

Support for Dreamwork as Helpful in Undergoing Personal Change

Support for Utilizing a Systemic Dreamwork Approach to Understand and Reduce Relationship Issues

METHOD

The participant was a Caucasian American woman, Rose. She interpreted her dreams and in the process monitored her dreams for emotional states of mind and changes in emotional states of mind about unsettling issues with relationships. She used dream suggestions of how to change underlying thoughts, attitudes and behavior to help her consciously understand and alleviate distressing emotional issues involved with her relationships. When other major relationships and relationship issues were implicated or depicted in an original series, she worked with dreams about the other relationship(s).

The theme, major relationships, was used for selecting series of dreams. Criteria for choosing a particular relationship was that the relationship was predominantly depicted in the participant’s dreams and reflected unresolved emotional issues. In all, eight series of dreams were selected, including husband, mother, dad, son, mother-in-law, a mentor, childhood best friend, and a series of dreams exclusively about sexual issues.

A dream interpretation model, the Personalized Method for Interpreting Dreams (PMID) was developed and used during the process. The steps of the PMID are:

Step 1: Connect the dream contents to current events and circumstances (most often same day) to identify the context or category of the dream.

Step 2: Connect pre-dream thoughts (most often same day) to dream contents by treating the dream as a responsive answer to pre-dream thoughts.

Step 3: Develop personally experienced-based definitions, or associations about each dream symbol: each dream character, place, object or circumstance.

Step 4: Explore dream for evidence of current emotions. Also, explore dream for changes in emotions over time about a relationship or issue being studied.

Step 5: Explore dream for possible suggestions of how to change thoughts, attitudes or behaviors leading to understanding of and reduction of relationship issue.

Step 6: Examine dream for interconnectedness of conceptions about the main dream character with other relationships depicted or implicated in the dream.

RESULTS

For purposes of concise yet detailed reporting the Joel series is highlighted to demonstrate the results of the study. For information about obtaining all the dreams and interpretations used in the study, write to Evelyn M. Duesbury, 960 Stonebridge Road, No. 11, Platteville, WI 53818.

The six steps of the PMID were used to address the five research questions developed for this study. To guide the reader’s review of the results, the research questions and the PMID steps that address each research question are provided next.

Research Question 1: Assuming a dreamwork approach is appropriate, what dream interpretation method can be used for self-facilitation? All six steps in the PMID address this question. That is, all the steps were designed for individual use.

Research Question 2: Can a dream interpretation method be personalized to each individual dreamer? PMID Step 3, develop personally experienced-based definitions, or associations about each dream symbol: each dream character, place, object or circumstance specifically addresses this question. Yet all six steps generally address Research Question 2 since all six steps reflect information, emotions, understanding and relationships unique to the dreamer.

Research Question 3: Will the use of dream interpretations reflect change in emotion over time? PMID Step 4, explore dream for evidence of current emotions; also, explore dream for changes in emotions over time about a relationship or issue being studied, addresses this question.

Research Question 4: Will the use of dream interpretations help the dreamer understand relationship issues? PMID Step 5, explore dream for possible suggestions of how to change thoughts, attitudes or behaviors leading to understanding of and reduction of relationship issues, addresses this question. PMID Step 6, examine dream for interconnectedness of conceptions about the main character of a dream with other relationships depicted or implicated in the dream also addresses this question. All the steps generally address Question 4 since all the steps contribute to the development and understanding of meanings not previously understood by the dreamer.

These following two dreams and PMID interpretations demonstrate Rose’ PMID use.

Dream 2, Horses and Rings and Our Son in Joel’s Trousers (January 9, 1993)

Joel and I, and Shane, our son, are at a horse race. (Shane is his present age.) Shane and I are participating.... The idea is to put your hand under some part of the horse as he starts—perhaps between the harness straps or something near its hindquarters. Somehow the right hand is under its hindquarters as it takes off.

I do this and I am aware the horse in the lane to the left has started before the one in front of me. Now the horse in front of me starts and is held—or perhaps the reason he didn’t get started so quick is that he is caught a bit on my ring (the gold band...)

I tell Joel and Shane how one could really get a finger hurt by doing this. And Joel says that is why he just doesn’t try it because of that danger....

Now Shane notices the diamond and wedding rings from Joel—on my left hand. The diamond is set up just a bit higher than I recalled; it is very pretty—dainty—small—sparkling...Shane is pleased. He puts his arm around my shoulders in congratulations for having the wedding rings back on. I tell him I am surprised to see them. I wasn’t conscious of putting them on again. I tell him how I must have done it while cleaning the dresser where I have kept them. He says, “God did it.”

I am pleased he is happy, but I feel uncomfortable yet with the rings and I feel certain I would not even have unconsciously put the rings back on. I think how the white (silver) and yellow gold do not match...

Shane says he is going to get something... I think he has asked me to go with him, but I hesitate, since I do not want to overstep myself. But yes, now he beckons me with his finger to come along. Joel is interested in perhaps some field of corn here.

I gladly walk along with Shane. We go around the outside of the tall rows. A horse or fellow is trying to get going in the muddy area around the corner and sprays mud on someone standing there. I believe Shane tries to help. It seems this isn’t a situation where you would think mud would spin out. But now mud spins out onto Shane’s trousers. I think how he is wearing jeans so will be easy to clean. But as I look I see he has on dress trousers with a plaid design. I think how maybe I’ll wash them for him.

As we walk on toward the gate Shane talks about some girl. He doesn’t say she was angry, but he talks of the power of her tennis strokes and that showed she was angry. Oh, my mind was wandering there at first. Who did he say the young woman was? I ask him. “Did you say it was Eileen?” He says or does something that makes me realize I’ve overstepped my bounds by asking.

We come to the gate and Shane goes up into a tower type thing just outside the gate, I believe, to wash the mud off his trousers.

Step 1: Connect the dream contents to current events and circumstances (most often same day) to identify the context or category of the dream. When the pressure of the marriage was greatest, I replaced my wedding rings with a gold ring. The gold ring was so people would not question us about our marriage. Also, I told myself the gold ring represented my spiritual marriage.

Step 2: Connect pre-dream thoughts (most often same day) to dream contents by treating the dream as a responsive answer to pre-dream thoughts. My pre-dream thoughts were about how I like being alone while Joel is away with his mother on a six-week trip. A question posed by my thoughts to my dreaming mind could be, “What would being alone do for me?” I understood the dream’s responsive answer to be: “Leaving your husband on the sidelines and attempting to race ahead via your idea of a spiritual marriage will only inhibit your spiritual progress.”

Step 3: Develop personally experienced-based definitions, or associations about each dream symbol: each dream character, place, object or circumstance.

Step 4: Explore dream for evidence of current emotions. Also, explore dream for changes in emotions over time about a relationship or issue being studied. I feel some relief from the pressure of our relationship compared to Dream 1, but I still feel resistance to wearing my wedding rings and consequently resistance to the marriage relationship.

Step 5: Explore dream for possible suggestions of how to change thoughts, attitudes, or behaviors leading to understanding of and reduction of relationship issue. Stop wearing the gold ring. Recognize burdens I place on my son from over-reliance on him.

Step 6: Examine dream for interconnectedness of conceptions about the main dream character with other relationships depicted or implicated in the dream. The dream reflects how my over-reliance on our son for support not only placed unfair burdens on him it also left Joel standing on the sidelines. My work with a series of dreams about Shane contributed to helping me relate to my son from a healthier perspective and to treating Joel as my partner instead of someone standing on the sidelines of my life.

Dream 3, Joel’s First Wife (July, 17, 1993)

We seem to be in an upper story of a hotel. Joel has helped two “men of the cloth” move in, It seems two of them were Catholic. Now he is helping a Protestant minister move in.

Now the minister comes out with his wife and family.... Their clothes seem back...to an earlier style of clothing....

Now there is a tall woman here. She is Joel’s first wife. She is well groomed but plain and is unsmiling. She is wearing a nice dress. She and Joel haven’t been together for a while, but somehow the couples that have been married will be in the same hotel room, so Joel and she will be sleeping together it seems.

There is at least another couple—may be others who have been married to another person, too, it seems, but the attention for me is Joel and his first wife.

Now Joel is here. He shows me what he is wearing. It is a bib overall. The bib is not quite as high as a regular overall. He points out the shirt he has on under it. It is a green plaid shirt. Joel wants to make certain I know the shirt is one I gave to him. He has a kind of “peppy” smile on his face, like he does when he wants everyone to be happy. It is a sort of gesture to let me. know he is paying “homage” to me.

I have a sort of pained or hurt feeling that he will be with her, but it isn’t a feeling that it is unfair or that he is doing something he should not do. I don’t have a feeling of “ownership” of him—not an agony feeling, but a surprising hurt.

Step I: Connect the dream contents to current events and circumstances (most often same day) to identify the context or category of the dream. Yesterday I wrote in my dream journal I feel good I do not feel bothered about Joel taking a trip with his mom.

Step 2: Connect pre-dream thoughts (most often same day) to dream contents by treating the dream as a responsive answer to pre-dream thoughts. My dream disputes my waking thoughts and shows I still feel bothered by Joel’s relationship with his mom.

Step 3: Develop personally experienced-based definitions, or associations about each dream symbol: each dream character, place, object or circumstance.

Step 4: Explore dream for evidence of current emotions. Also, explore dream for changes in emotions over time about a relationship or issue being studied. Pained or hurt. The dream aptly reflects how the hurt felt to me. Although I consciously thought my emotions had changed, the dream shows I still feel hurt, yet don’t feel it is unfair.

Step 5: Explore dream for possible suggestions of how to change thoughts, attitudes or behaviors leading to understanding of and reduction of relationship issue. Explore Joel and his mom’s belief system. When I finally understood the dream r did explore Joel’s belief system. Joel’s allegiance to his mom stems from his belief system that was highly influenced by his mom. It astounds me I did not understand the dramatic impacts of his mom’s service-oriented belief system on Joel long ago. Of course, Joel’s mother takes on a “significant other” role that goes even beyond her nurturing parental role.

Step 6: Examine dream for interconnectedness of conceptions about the main dream character with other relationships depicted or implicated in the dream. Joel’s mom is reflected in the dream. This dream helped me realize that my feelings about Joel were clouded by yet unresolved feelings that Joel’s first devotion is to his mother and it inspired me to explore a series of my dreams primarily about Joel’s mom.

Rose worked through a series of dreams about her mother-in-law. Resolution of stress about her mother-in-law eased Rose’ relationship with Joel. One of Rose’ last dreams she presented about her mother-in-law shows Rose pulling weeds out of her mother-in-Iaw’s flowerbed. Every time Rose pulls a weed something else pops up-a flower.

In the last dream Rose presented about her husband, Rose was “happily looking forward to marrying her husband,” although in waking life they had been married for some time. Now in waking life Rose began calling Joel, her “best friend.” Then her childhood best friend, Sharlie, who left Rose for other friends, came in a dream and was alive at her own funeral, showing Rose had revived her old hurt from best friend issues.

Limitations of the Study

The time frame of the study (seven years) may make it appear that it took seven years for the participant to understand and alleviate any relationship issues. Upon closer observation, the participant’s effective use of dream interpretations could have been demonstrated in, for example, a one-dream study or a one-year study. I chose to extend the study until all of Rose’s current major issues with each of the major relationships covered by this study seemed to be reduced.

The extent to which the findings of this study can be applied to other people’s dream-work to resolve relationship issues may pose some limitations since not all people are motivated to the level of commitment shown by the participant.

DISCUSSION

Using the PMID in a self-directed way, the participant completed all six steps of the Personalized Method of Interpreting Dreams for most dreams. Her account of personal circumstances (PMID Step 1) and pre-dream thoughts (PMID Step 2) relate primarily to her activities and thoughts the day prior to each dream. Her personal experiences (PMID Step 3) defined dream symbols. Over the course of the Joel series of dreams, Rose’ dream interpretations reflect great positive changes in her emotions (PMID Step 4) about her husband. Strong evidence that use of dream interpretations resulted in Rose’s understanding of relationship issues is demonstrated by her ability to recognize dream suggestions (PMID Step 5) she was not consciously aware of prior to the dream. Rose’ examination of the inter-connectedness of her experiences in other relationships (PMID Step 6) helped Rose reduce stress about her relationship with the main dream characters. For, example, Rose’ dream interpretations helped Rose understand that losing her best friend in childhood affected how she was interacting in current friendships.

When the dream interpretation data are examined over the course of the study we find they reflect that relationship issues were reduced

However, reduction of issues is difficult to trace to its source(s) because of confounding variables. So, did the use of dream interpretations have any effect on reducing relationship issues? The pat1icipant attests that she acted on the above suggestions. That is, she took the gold ring off, she “read” the story of possible sexual abuse by reading and interpreting her dreams about sexual issues, she worked to continue treating her sexuality as a natural human faculty, and she interpreted series of dreams about interconnecting relationships. She also worked to improve her thoughts. She attests that her work with dreams contributed greatly to her present feelings of comfort with major relationships. Yet, for purposes of this study, we need to gather some evidence from the data itself for whether the use of dream interpretations reduced relationship issues. One approach is to tie understanding with reduction of issues.

The credibility of the participant’s interpretations naturally impacts the credibility of this study. Ernest Hartmann, dream researcher, professor of psychiatry and editor-emeritus of Dreaming magazine read narrative forms of most dream interpretations contained in this study. He described these dream interpretations as “a brilliant job of using dreams as psychotherapy and being (her) own therapist through the use of dreams” (personal communication, January 27, 1997).

How the Findings Relate to Prior Studies and Findings

The most notable finding of this study is that use the PMID helped the participant understand and alleviate relationship issues connected with seven major people in her life. The PMID utilizes six characteristics of dreams as reflected in the six steps of the method: pre-dream events and circumstances together with thoughts initiate the dream, symbols are largely derived from personal associations, emotional content of dreams reflect changes over time, dreams contain problem-solving suggestions, and relationship issues with one relationship are more fully understood by understanding influential conceptions about other major relationships in the dreamer’s life. Findings that relate to each of those characteristics are discussed next.

Significance of the Present Study

The present study extends beyond the above studies and literature discussions in its utility of dreams from a systemic perspective to understand and reduce relationship issues. The procedure in the PMID for exploration of an individual’s dreams from the systemic perspective of interconnected relationships is not a procedure in any of the contemporary dream interpretation methods I explored during this study. Further, I did not find any other dream interpretation method that exclusively combines pre-dream events and circumstances, pre-dream thoughts, emotional content, personal associations, and dream solutions with interconnectedness of major relationships.

Implications for Counseling

Hartmann (1995) envisages when the dreamer is in therapy, “the therapist can help in making further integrative use of the dream as well as other material that arises in the therapeutic relationship” (p. 224). Although the participant in this case study worked alone, a person may be too steeped in emotional issues to understand and interpret relationship dreams. If so, counselor-facilitation of dream interpretations would be more helpful than the individual’s self-facilitation.

Whether the person works alone to interpret dreams or with a counselor, an implication of this study is that the counseling process could be accelerated by clients’ use of the PMID to record dream information and develop at least some meanings before the session. Then counselors could use those pre-writings in session to help the clients.

Several benefits seem likely from the client’s pre-write. First, the client’s thought processes during the dream selection and writing in a form understandable to the counselor will force clients to delve deeper for meanings than just informally thinking about each dream. Second, the selection of a sequence of dreams for each series of dreams would help the counselor (and the client) notice either changes or stalemates in the client’s consciousness. Third, the selection of a sequence of dreams would move away from focusing on only one dream when perhaps a few “everyday” dreams would contain more useful meanings for the dreamer and the counselor than one traumatic dream. Fourth, the series of client-written dreams would help the counselor decide what areas to address with the client. Fifth, client participation maximizes counselor session time.

The present study found that issues were often understood and reduced in a reasonably short time utilizing the PMID. A counseling implication of this circumstance is to coordinate counselor-facilitated brief therapy sessions with development of self-facilitated dream interpretation. Implementation of self-facilitated dream interpretation, utilizing the model developed in this study, could result in achieving dual goals of brief counselor-facilitated sessions and ongoing self-reflection.

CONCLUSIONS

Outcomes of this study in relation to the five research questions posed are all positive. The PMID was found to be effective for self-facilitation (Research Question 1). All six steps in the PMID were found to be uniquely personal to the participant (Research Question 2). Use of dream interpretations reflected change in affect over time (Research Question 3), and the use of the dream interpretations helped the participant understand and reduce her relationship issues (Research Questions 4 and 5).

REFERENCES 

Estilo de referência bibliográfica: APA 6th - American Psychological Association, 6th Edition

Duesbury, E. (2001). Personalized method for interpreting dreams (PMID)--as applied to relationship issues. Dreaming, 11(4), 203-216. doi:http://dx.doi.org.vlibdb.vcccd.edu/10.1023/A:1012292324499