The present research tested the effects of goal priming and motive-goal congruence on goal-related dream recall. Based on Klinger's induction principle, it was hypothesized that dreams related to a personal goal are most likely to occur when the goal has been primed and when the goal is congruent with a person's implicit motivational needs. Participants reported the most important goal they were currently pursuing and completed a TAT-like measure of implicit motives. Before going to sleep, participants either elaborated fantasies related to their most important goal (goal priming condition) or memories related to their first day of school (school priming condition). Dream reports were collected immediately upon awakening. Results showed that goal priming increased the amount of goal-related dreaming, relative to school priming. However, this effect was most pronounced for participants who pursued a goal which was congruent with their implicit motives.
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