Dream recall frequency and attitude towards dreams: a reinterpretation of the relation

Almost every published study having examined the association between people’s dream recall frequency (DRF) and their Attitude Towards Dreams has found a positive relation. However, all but two of these studies have relied exclusively on Estimated DRF as the measure of DRF. The main goal of the present study was to evaluate the hypothesis that attitude towards dreams is not related to DRF but that it influences the estimated DRF through a process of selective attention. A secondary goal was to evaluate the adequacy of Estimated DRF as a measure of diary DRF as well as in relation to Attitude Towards Dreams. Participants’ (N = 82) Attitude Towards Dreams and Estimated DRF were assessed by a self-reported questionnaire while diary DRF was calculated from a dream log. As predicted, Attitude Towards Dreams and diary DRF were independently related to Estimated DRF. In addition, estimations of DRF were found to be inaccurate; individuals with a negative attitude towards dreams were more likely to underestimate their diary DRF. The data show that the choice of DRF measures has a direct and significant impact on the pattern and magnitude of the relation between people’s DRF and their Attitude Towards Dreams.