This article reviews and summarizes a number of published studies as well as recent unpublished work by the authors on Boundaries (Thin vs. Thick Boundaries) and various aspects of dreaming. Analysis of data by groups as well as by individuals demonstrates a surprisingly high correlation between thinness of boundaries and dream recall frequency. Thin boundaries appears to be the only personality measure clearly related to dream recall frequency. We also demonstrate a relationship between thin boundaries and dream content. Dreams of persons with thin boundaries are rated more dream-like, more emotional, and more bizarre in a number of studies. Thin boundaries are correlated especially with Central Image Intensity—a measure that is elevated in powerful dreams, dreams after traumatic events, and dreams after 9/11/01. These results strengthen our view that the “trait” continuum running from very thick boundaries at one end to very thin boundaries at the other is closely related to the “state” continuum running from focused waking activity at one end, through waking fantasy and daydreaming, to dreaming at the other end.
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