I know how you felt last night, or do I? Self- and external ratings of emotions in REM sleep dreams – Self- and external ratings of emotions in REM sleep dreams

Abstract

<div> We investigated whether inconsistencies in previous studies regarding emotional experiences</div> <div> in dreams derive from whether dream emotions are self-rated or externally evaluated.</div> <div> Seventeen subjects were monitored with polysomnography in the sleep laboratory</div> <div> and awakened from every rapid eye movement (REM) sleep stage 5 min after the onset</div> <div> of the stage. Upon awakening, participants gave an oral dream report and rated their dream</div> <div> emotions using the modified Differential Emotions Scale, whereas external judges rated the</div> <div> participants&rsquo; emotions expressed in the dream reports, using the same scale. The two</div> <div> approaches produced diverging results. Self-ratings, as compared to external ratings,</div> <div> resulted in greater estimates of (a) emotional dreams; (b) positively valenced dreams;</div> <div> (c) positive and negative emotions per dream; and (d) various discrete emotions represented</div> <div> in dreams. The results suggest that this is mostly due to the underrepresentation</div> <div> of positive emotions in dream reports. Possible reasons for this discrepancy are discussed.</div>