Threatening Figures In Lucid Dreams

The subject of dreaming is one that is very fascinating but still not fundamentally understood. Lucid dreaming especially is an interesting topic of research because it allows an individual to be aware of their dream and manipulate it to their power. Studies have been conducted that examines the contents of lucid dreams and new data has come out to support that researchers are able to communicate with an individual while they are actively lucid dreaming. 

In the article "Inner Ghosts: Encounters With Threatening Dream Characters in Lucid Dreams" Tadas Stumbrys and Daniel Erlacher examined the frequency of threatening figures in lucid dreams and the way in which the dreamers responded to them.  The researchers administered a questionnaire where the participants were asked what percentage of the characters in their dreams were perceived as friendly, neutral and threatening. They were also asked how they responded to the threatening characters. The results revealed that half of the characters in these dreams were friendly, one third were neutral and one fifth were perceived as threatening. When it came to the threatening figures, the majority of the dreamers verbally or physically fought the figures or tried to reach an agreement. It was uncommon for the dreamers to accept defeat. It was also discovered that more frequent lucid dreamers were more constructive and confident when dealing with threatening figures and encountered them less. Individuals that had frequent nightmares and infrequent lucid dreams tended to avoid threatening characters and encountered them more often.

This article shows many interesting points about lucid dreaming and how the characters that appear in these dreams reflect our own inner workings. Focusing on the presence of threatening characters in dreams, it can be said that they represent parts of our brain that we tend to avoid when we are in control. A dreamer is conscious while in a lucid dream, but nonetheless they are still in a dream where their mind can make anything appear. A significant point to note is that individuals who had frequent nightmares encountered threatening figures a lot more than regular lucid dreamers. Nightmares are seen commonly in individuals that suffer from mental illnesses such as PTSD and anxiety disorder (Suni & Singh, 2021). This shows that these figures are a representation of an unresolved trauma/issue that is constantly present in these individuals minds. The fact that the dreamers often flee in these situations also shows that it is an issue that greatly scares them and not something that they are comfortable facing alone. Possibly with the help and guidance of a professional, the dreamers would be able to navigate the confrontation with these characters. 

New research conducted by Konkoly et al. has revealed that it is possible to communicate with an individual that is actively lucid dreaming. This is of great significance to the study conducted by Stumbrys and Erlacher because open communication with a mental health professional while in the presence of a threatening figure can help the dreamer navigate their internalized fears, especially in dreamers with a history of mental illness. If the dreamer can signal to the researcher through left-right eye movements that they are in the presence of a threatening figure and they are unsure how to respond, the researcher can respond (either through morse code or another communication method) by giving prompts and guiding them how to respond. By confronting inner problems through dreams, the dreamer can manipulate the situation or respond to it in multiple ways to see what way is best for them. And since there is no real life consequence with this technique, it would slowly build the dreamer's confidence. Once the dreamer has manipulated the situation with the threatening figure multiple times and found a way that works best for them, they could carry that technique over into the real world to solve day to day problems. 

References

Stumbrys, T., & Erlacher, D. (2017). Inner ghosts: Encounters with threatening dream characters in lucid dreams. American Psychological Association, 27(1), 40–48. https://doi.org/10.1037/drm0000043

Konkoly, K. R., Appel, K., Chabani, E., Mangiaruga, A., Gott, J., Mallett, R., Caughran, B., Witkowski, S., Whitmore, N. W., Mazurek, C. Y., Berent, J. B., Weber, F. D., Türker, B., Leu-Semenescu, S., Maranci, J. B., Pipa, G., Arnulf, I., Oudiette, D., Dresler, M., & Paller, K. A. (2021). Real-time dialogue between experimenters and dreamers during REM sleep. Current Biology, 31(7), 1417–1427.e6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2021.01.026

Suni, E., & Singh, A. (2021, June 24). Nightmares. Sleep Foundation. Retrieved October 18, 2021, from https://www.sleepfoundation.org/nightmares#:%7E:text=Mental%20health%20conditions%3A%20Nightmares%20are,%2C%20bipolar%20disorder%2C%20and%20schizophrenia.