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ABSTRACT
Erotic topics are common in dreams. This study’s objective was to find and explain factors influencing the frequency of these erotic dreams using an online survey in a German sample with a broad age range. 2907 participants estimated what percentage of their recalled dreams contained erotic motifs and provided both demographic and dream related information. On average, participants estimated that 18 percent of their dreams are erotic-related. This mean value was higher than the figures of previous diary studies. While men’s dreams contain erotic themes more often than women’s and a younger age increased erotic dream frequency, the education of the participants had no influence on the percentage of erotic dreams. Referring to the continuity hypothesis, gender differences can be explained with the amount of time spent with sexual thoughts and fantasies in waking life and increased with the participant’s age, suggesting a cohort effect. Future research should investigate the relationship between erotic dreaming and variables like personality, psychopathology, and physiological measures like testosterone.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
Data availability statement
The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, MS, upon reasonable request.
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Michael Schredl
Michael Schredl has been a dream researcher since 1990 and is the head of research of the sleep laboratory of the Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim, Germany. He teaches at the University of Mannheim and is also the editor of the online International Journal of Dream Research.
Caspar Geißler
Caspar Geißler is a psychology student working as an intern on the erotic dream project and publication.
Anja S. Göritz
Anja S. Göritz is a full professor of Occupational and Consumer Psychology at the University of Freiburg in Germany.