AGONISTIC (AGGRESSIVE) DREAM CONTENT IN COLLEGE FRESHMEN: ATTACHMENT THEORY AND ETHOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES ON HUMAN DREAMIN

This study has attempted to understand aggression in the manifest content of human dreams in terms of John Bowlby's (1973, 1980, 1982) attachment theory and ethological studies reported by a number of researchers (Eibl-Eibesfeldt, 1972; Hinde, 1973; Hamburg, 1973). Aggression in manifest human dream content in terms of attachment theory and ethological studies has received little attention among researchers.;The present study attempted to assess the relationship of aggression in human manifest dream content to sex, separation status, and attachment history using a 2 x 2 x 2 unbalanced factorial design. A main effect was found for a relationship between separation status on agonistic content in dreams.;Tests of ethological hypotheses involving a continuity between waking non-human primate behavior and human manifest dream content were not possible due to insufficient data, despite discernible trends.;Conclusions included, but were not limited to: (1) People with less secure attachment histories have more agonistic content in their dreams than do people with more secure attachment histories. (2) Young people, of college age, with less secure attachment histories, who are not restricted by economic considerations, are more likely than those with more secure attachment histories to continue living with their parents while attending college as day students. (3) People with less secure attachment histories have more dream content reflecting others attacking, pursuing, or hurting them in their dreams than do those with more secure attachments. (4) People with more secure attachment histories have proportionately more friendly interactions (friendly interactions:total interactions) in their dream life than do those with less secure attachments. (5) There are no readily apparent differences between males and females in the manifest aggressive content of human dreams. (6) This study supports the Attachment History Questionnaire's internal and external validity. (7) The study of manifest dream content is a fruitful endeavor and deserves further exploration, especially from an attachment theory and ethological perspective. (8) Hall and Van De Castle's (1966) Social Interactions Coding System is strongly biased towards coding more aggressive interactions than friendly interactions. A solution to this problem is proposed.