Degree Date

6-2022

Document Type

Dissertation - Public Access

Degree Name

Psy.D. Doctor of Clinical Psychology

Academic Discipline

Clinical Psychology

First Advisor

Emese Vitalis, PhD, MBA

Second Advisor

Kathy Sexton-Radek, PhD, D.BSM

Third Advisor

Kristen M. Newberry, Psy.D

Abstract

According to the United States Census Bureau, the United States alone is host to around 350 languages. When it comes to investigating languages in dreams by multilinguals, some studies have focused heavily on only two languages—Spanish and English. The purpose of this study was to add to the understanding of how language use relates to the dream content of multilinguals. This study recruited the assistance of nine polylingual individuals. The participants were instructed to record their dreams in the languages in which they occurred for 2 weeks. After 2 weeks, the participants translated their dreams into English in order for them to be interpreted and analyzed for themes. The findings of this study indicated that multilinguals' daily life languages, whether their initial or later acquired languages, were replicated in their dreams. According to the findings, the frequency of language use appears to be more important than when it was first learnt, when it comes to the occurrences of language in dreams. The findings of this study indicate that multilingual dreams are capable of being examined and understood even when the therapist and client do not speak the same language.

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