Perceiving facial features on dream personages: A quantitative survey

Abstract

Background: There is a dearth in dream research on some of the specifics about seeing or not seeing facial features during dreams with some unanswered questions, including how this might vary among individual dreamers in both occurrence and frequency. Aims: To determine if and to what degree seeing or not seeing facial features varies among individual dreamers and if demographic factors such as biological sex and age are statistically significant. Method: A survey was conducted asking adult dreamers in the United States if they saw facial features on dream personages using a multi-choice question with a single-select endorsement of always, usually, sometimes, rarely, or never. Results: Based on responses from 291 participants, it was found that differences in occurrence and frequency do exist among dreamers, but that most of them (74.9%) sometimes see facial features in their dreams and sometimes do not. Furthermore, there were not any statistical significant differences found among dreamers in regards to demographic variables such as biological sex or age. Limitations: The results of this study are based on responses of adults in the United States, so it cannot necessarily be generalized to either children or to people living in other areas of the world. Conclusion: These findings have value for dream research in general and beg the question as to why there are such variances among different individual dreamers. Further research is recommended.