What you dream about may reveal a lot about your personality, researchers from the University of Liverpool and University of Turku report.
A new study published on September 30 in Imagination, Cognition and Personality found ‘Dark Triad’ personality traits have links to the content of ones’ dreams.
The cohort of 265 participants undertook an online survey that assessed their dream content and personality traits.
Results showed there is a link between aggressive and sexual dreams, and those scoring high on ‘dark triad’ personality traits.
From regressive analysis, researchers discovered those with Machiavellian traits have an increased frequency in aggressive dreams, including dreams of murder and physical assault.
Narcissists tend to have dreams with a more sexual content, researchers report.
Those scoring high on psychopathy have increased rates of both aggressive and sexual dreams.
The researchers say their findings support a number of past studies that suggest ‘dark triad’ traits are a manifestation of ‘fast life strategy’, an outlook on life that incorporates higher aggression, an increased interest in sexual behavior and impulsivity.
Those with Machiavellian traits have an increased frequency in aggressive dreams, including dreams of murder and physical assault. image is in the public domain.
While having occasional dreams of a sexual or aggressive nature is normal, increased occurrences of provocative dreams could signify personality disorders under the umbrella of the dark triad.
Original Research: Abstract for “Dark Dreams Are Made of This: Aggressive and Sexual Dream Content and the Dark Triad of Personality” by Minna Lyons, Shelley Khan, Nils Sandman, and Katja Valli in Imagination, Cognition and Personality. Published September 30 2018.
doi:10.1177/0276236618803316
