The inner story: Psychological patterning as revealed in dreams, imagery and sandplay

This dissertation investigates two hypotheses. (1) There is an inner story and set of characters in people that affect and sometimes determine the way they perceive and behave in the world. (2) Active participation in eliciting one's inner story can make possible the change and progression of the story and/or characters. This change in the inner story may then contribute to changes in the person's behavior as well.; The method combined four elements in a case study format. (1) Intentions were set for the research. (2) A history was taken using a modified version of the Life Script Questionnaire (McCormick, 1971). (3) Dreams were incubated with the question "What is my life myth/inner story?" (4) Sandplay sessions were undertaken. The data was then analyzed phenomenologically.; Eight case studies were presented. In all cases inner characters were easily discovered. The characters appeared as moods, presences and internal monologues as well as figures in dreams, imagery and sandplay. The inner story was also uncovered in all cases but was more obscure than the characters. The story appeared most clearly in imagery. One or more images emerged from the person's material that held the story and main characters.; Six of the eight cases showed significant change and progression in their inner stories and characters. These changes in the inner story were also positively correlated with changes in the subjects' external lives. For example, a Jewish man reconnected with his inner father and his heritage and became better able to work and support himself. A woman faced how intrusive her father was. She then developed a positive inner male and learned to control a psychosomatic symptom that had plagued her.