Abstract
This study explored the effects of urban/rural background, gender, education and age on the way Zulu South Africans (N = 140) perceive, understand and respond to dreams. Results showed that the lives of rural subjects were significantly more influenced by dreams than urban subjects, particularly in terms of consulting dream interpreters and acting in response to dreams. Significantly more men than women reported experiencing dreams as communication with ancestors, and regarded these dreams seriously. Subjects with less education were more likely than others to associate dreams with specific events, consult dream interpreters, and report that their lives were influenced by dreams. More older than younger respondents experienced dreams as a direct communication with ancestors, consulted dream interpreters and responded to dreams with prayer and rituals. These results are discussed in terms of traditional cultural beliefs and deculturation.
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