Felt shift as a function of dream interpretation process: A qualitative analysis.

摘要

This qualitative, ipsative case study explores archival data, a dream journal, to better understand under what conditions Gendlin's concept of felt shift was experienced by the subject following dream interpretation. Each dream description was accompanied by the dreamer's cognitive and affective response to the dream interpretation process. The researcher and an independent reviewer used Q-sort and content analysis methodology to code each dream and its interpretive response across two domains: the interpretive context of the dream and dream content characteristics. Conditions coded in the interpretive context included (a) felt shift, (b) focusing-oriented dream interpretation technique, (c) word count, (d) self-interpretation or assisted interpretation, (e) dream interpretation theory, (f) manifest or latent content focus, and (g) affect intensity level. Content characteristics coded for dreams included (a) word count, (b) affect intensity, and (c) repetitive relationship themes. Results suggest that felt shift occurs during dream interpretation in the presence of untrained, focusing-oriented dream interpretation technique. Felt shift appears to be related to focusing strategies, affect intensity during interpretation and higher word count. Interpretations tended to unfold from a point of intense emotion or clarity and move toward either insight or felt shift, regardless of the initial affect intensity of the dream. Assistance with interpretation did not appear to impact results. Thematic components of the dream did not appear to differentiate between dreams resulting in felt shift and those with no felt shift. Results support the use of dream interpretation in a brief therapy format, where the goal is a shift in perspective and a bodily sense of release surrounding a previously unclear problem. Areas for future research were addressed.