Chapter 18 - Non-dreaming/the Use of Dreams in Creativity

Abstract

This chapter presents the results of study undertaken to understand the use of dreams in creativity by different individuals. Individuals were asked to state what they considered their creative process, and then to rate their level of involvement in that process. That involvement was to be rated on a scale from a hobby or interest on up to an income- producing focus. Subjects were asked to rate how often they remembered their dreams, on a scale from never to always. For this group the average reported frequency of dream recall was approximately once a week. Nearly 7% of respondents reported that they never remembered their dreams. When participants were asked to identify what they considered to be their creative process or interest, the largest response categories were physical activity (23%), crafts (15%), and music (15%). Nineteen percent reported having no creative interest. Physical activities were the most commonly described creative outlets with sports, particularly golf, hiking, camping, and gardening reported most frequently. There were other more sedentary activities described as creative pursuits such as reading, and relaxing, with six individuals stating that watching television was their creative process. Male and female respondents differ in their type of creative interest. Women are more likely than men (52.7% versus 35.7%) to report a traditional creative interest. Men were more likely than women to have a nontraditional creative interest (45.8% versus 27.4%). Responses of “no creative interest” were nearly equal between men and women.