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Is Structural Analysis of Social Behavior (SASB) suitable for the content analysis of dreams?
Eckhard Frick M.D , M.A, Christel Halevy Dipl.Psych
This is the first report showing that SASB can be used for the content analysis of
dreams. The present study uses clinical examples originating from psycho-oncologic
outpatient treatment in order to show the chances and limitations of SASB content
analysis. Successful rating requires evaluating all three dimensions of SASB (focus,
affiliation and interdependence). There has to be a sufficient quantity of interactions
between referents, i.e., the actors. Non-animated objects can be referents in SASB
content analysis provided they are important for dream action. To code descriptions and
affective states, they must be paraphrased into actions. Dream interactions described
in the SASB framework may express the dreamer‘s habitual, more or less conscious
interaction patterns. Furthermore, dream interactions may reflect unconscious fears,
wishes, conflicts, and problem solutions. Similar to role playing and free association, the
formulation of cyclic maladaptive patterns may provide an important source of
creativity to the dreamer. SASB assisted dream content analysis may critically
accompany clinical hypotheses. In the context of a SASB directed dynamic
psychotherapy, empirical results can stimulate the process of focussing. SASB can be used
for coding dream texts as well as dream induced association chains. The present study also
reveals certain limitations of SASB content analysis: Dreams predominantly expressing
emotions without clear actions (including actions inward, introject focus III) cannot be
coded except by infering the underlying interaction patterns. The same is true for highly
descriptive dreams which may be extremely interesting at the symbolic level but which
cannot be rated in the absence of interactions. (Sleep and Hypnosis 2002;4(2):58-69)
| Keywords: SASB, dreams, content analysis, cyclic maladaptive pattern, psycho-oncology |
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