Access to Hidden Reserves of the Unconscious Through Dreams in Creative Problem Solving*

Replication of the Factor Structure of a Questionnaire about Dreams and its Relation to Creativity

Replication of Livingston and Levin's [1] factor analysis of Domino's [2] Questionnaire About Dreams was attempted utilizing a population of 106 graduate students screened for adequate dream recall. Results indicated that the questionnaire produced two dominant factors roughly corresponding to educated and mystical beliefs regarding dream origin. Although the items which comprised these factors were exactly those previously reported by Livingston and Levin, the percentage of variance accounted for was considerably smaller than that found in the earlier study. Furthermore, neither factor correlated significantly with creativity measures derived from a modified Wallach-Kogan [3] battery, nor with Rotter's [4] locus of control inventory. Consistent with previous research, item analysis of the QAD again failed to discriminate creative from non-creative individuals. Taken together, these findings strongly suggest that the QAD may not be a valid research instrument.

Soviet and American Perspectives on Hidden Reserves and Human Potentials

The biological, psychological, and social capacities that enable individuals to engage in personally and culturally valuable behavior are referred to as "hidden human reserves" in the U.S.S.R. and as "human potentials" in the United States. There is a tradition of interest and research in both countries despite the fact that this area has been ignored by many scientists. The topics studied include imagery, self-regulation, hypnosis, accelerated learning, and imagination. The individual's biological predisposition, cultural background, and life experience combine to produce a capacity for development that needs to be more intensively investigated. Practical applications have been implemented in such fields as healing, sports, language learning, creative problem solving, and psychotherapy.

A method to tap the "forgotten assets" of... human potentialities is rapidly emerging as a discrete field of scientific inquiry.... Commitment is not restricted to the United States. Scientists in the U.S.S.R. and other countries are also at work.... As early as 1964 the following appeared in Soviet Life Today...: "The latest findings in anthropology, psychology, logic, and physiology show that the potential of the human mind is very great indeed." (Otto, 1969)

Cognitive antecedents of dream recall

222 students completed the Cognitive Processes Survey which assessed imaginal life, orientation toward imaginal life, and defensiveness. Subjects were separated according to number of weekly dreams recalled and tested for short-term memory with the Digit Span of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale. Analyses of variance showed that imaginal life differed significantly across low, average, and high dream recallers. Orientation toward imaginal life was significant for high dream recallers but not for low recallers. A t test for correlated Digit Span raw scores indicated significant differences between low and high dream recallers. Differences in dream recall seemed better explained by cognitive variables such as short-term memory than attitudinal factors such as defensiveness. Dream recall might be enhanced by increasing the channel capacity of short-term memory and increasing imaginal life through activities such as introspection, daydreaming, and meditation.