Perceptions of dream‐disclosure: An exploratory study

Abstract

This study explored the reasons individuals offered for revealing and concealing dreams to and from an intimate other. Results indicated that dream‐disclosure enhanced feelings of intimacy and trust within established relationships, provided the others’ response was anticipated to be supportive and nonjudgmental. Dreams also contained “taboo”; information, frequently of a sexual nature, that were concealed to avoid anticipated self‐humiliation, diminished respect, harm to the others’ feelings, and/or relational conflict. The dialectical tension of “dream‐expression”; (the disclosure of dreams) and “dream‐protection”; (the concealment of dreams) existed within close relationships.