Every second person has had a lucid dream at least once, but the regularity of this experience varies from never to several nights a week. A group of German scientists led by Michael Schredl, an active LD researcher, decided to analyze which features of the psyche increase the frequency of awareness in a dream.
The trait most closely related with LD frequency turns out to be openness to new experiences. Attentiveness also has an impact, as well as the habit of meditating. Since lucid dreaming is a state with increased metacognitive activity, the list also includes highly developed cognition and independent thinking.
The authors also add that high sensory-processing sensitivity is a major contributor. A person who feels everything more deeply and subtly has a higher chance of becoming a successful lucid dreamer. This makes sense from a theoretical point of view, since one of the paths toward lucidity is the recognition of absurdities in a dream.
A small but significant relationship was also found between LD frequency and extraversion. According to the authors, this is based on such traits as cheerfulness and energy, thanks to which extroverts are able train themselves in various LD techniques with great diligence.
The negative qualities of lucid dreamers include a certain amount of selfishness. They are more focused on satisfying their own needs in a dream and may be less accommodating and pleasant in reality. As the researchers add, such people are more likely to make efforts to increase the frequency of LD.
Does your inner portrait match these characteristics?
The article was published in April 2022 in the journal Imagination, Cognition and Personality.
