Is anatomy destiny in dreams? A content analysis of the dreams of hetero- and homosexual men and women

This study was a content analysis of the dreams of hetero- and homosexual men and women. Dream reports were collected via anonymous Internet submissions from 120 individuals and analyzed using the Hall-Van de Castle dream content coding system to determine any differences in dream content between men and women based upon the sexual orientation of the dreamer. Several categories that had been found to be different between men and women in previous research were explored, including aggression, being the victim of aggression, friendliness, child characters, architecture, clothing, and streets and roadways. A series of chi-square tests of independence was utilized to assess the relationship between sexual orientation and dream content. While none of the hypotheses were supported, this study challenges the prevailing thought founded upon differences in dreams due exclusively to the biological sex of the dreamer.