Gay dreams: exploring the relationship between sexual orientation and dream content in men
Although numerous individual factors influencing dream content have been explored, research on the link between sexual orientation and dreaming remains limited. This study examined this relationship among 119 German-speaking men (mean age = 31.97 years), including 55 homosexual and 64 heterosexual p...
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| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article (Journal) |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
31 Oct 2024
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| In: |
Journal of homosexuality
Year: 2024, Pages: 1-19 |
| ISSN: | 1540-3602 |
| DOI: | 10.1080/00918369.2024.2420074 |
| Online Access: | Verlag, kostenfrei, Volltext: https://doi.org/10.1080/00918369.2024.2420074
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| Author Notes: | Johann Dietze, MSc, Schredl Michael, PhD and Ulrike Gisch, PhD |
| Summary: | Although numerous individual factors influencing dream content have been explored, research on the link between sexual orientation and dreaming remains limited. This study examined this relationship among 119 German-speaking men (mean age = 31.97 years), including 55 homosexual and 64 heterosexual participants. Participants completed a questionnaire on their waking life sexuality and dreams and provided two dream reports. Homosexual men reported more sexual partners in waking life and lower satisfaction with their sexual orientation compared to heterosexual men. No significant differences were found in dream recall frequency, emotional tone, nightmare frequency, or distress, though homosexual men reported more sexual dreams. Dream reports showed no significant differences in sexual interactions or the number of sexual partners between groups, but homosexual men’s dreams featured a higher ratio of male to female characters and more romantic relationships with men. These findings partially align with the continuity hypothesis, suggesting that the dream content of homosexual men reflects their social interactions and romantic preferences. Overall, the study suggests that homosexual and heterosexual men share a similar dream pattern. The implications of these findings highlight the importance of considering sexual orientation in dream research to better understand the intersection of sexuality and unconscious processes. First recent comparative analysis of dreams between homosexual and heterosexual menHomosexual and heterosexual men share a similar dream patternThe main differences in dream content were that homosexual men reported more sexual dreams, a higher ratio of male to female dream characters, and more romantic relationships with menFuture studies with larger sample sizes and more advanced methods (e.g. diary studies) are needed to better understand the relationship between sexual orientation and dreaming First recent comparative analysis of dreams between homosexual and heterosexual men Homosexual and heterosexual men share a similar dream pattern The main differences in dream content were that homosexual men reported more sexual dreams, a higher ratio of male to female dream characters, and more romantic relationships with men Future studies with larger sample sizes and more advanced methods (e.g. diary studies) are needed to better understand the relationship between sexual orientation and dreaming |
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| Item Description: | Gesehen am 01.04.2025 |
| Physical Description: | Online Resource |
| ISSN: | 1540-3602 |
| DOI: | 10.1080/00918369.2024.2420074 |