Abstract
Despite having played a foundational role in the establishment of psychology as a field of research, the structure and function of dreams remains a particularly elusive subject, due in part to disagreements between the psychological and neurobiological communities on how its study should be approached. Across the literature in both fields, significant evidence exists for a characterization of dreaming as a cyclical and mnemonic process through which waking memories are reformatted into increasingly narrative structures. The following review explores the commonalities between traditionally disparate theories and the often overlooked role of narrative coherence as a potential unifying factor, given the consistent similarities between its effects on dreams, memory, and creativity. This observation forms the basis for a study on the potential impact of narrative media on dream content and recall within a population of young adults in the United States, conducted through a three-part questionnaire adapted from those used by previous studies.
Advisor
Casey, Michael
Department
Psychology
Recommended Citation
McGee, Declan M., "Effects of Narrative Media on Dream Content and Recall" (2025). Senior Independent Study Theses. Paper 13257.
https://openworks.wooster.edu/independentstudy/13257
Disciplines
Psychology
Keywords
Dreaming, Media, Narrative, Continuity Hypothesis, REM sleep, Memory consolidation, Bizarreness
Publication Date
2025
Degree Granted
Bachelor of Arts
Document Type
Senior Independent Study Thesis
Survey results
© Copyright 2025 Declan M. McGee