Dream Analysis of Self-Narrated Dreams of Incarcerated Juveniles

Abstract

The study was based on the dream analysis of the self-narrated dreams of incarcerated juveniles in order to uncover how these dreams reflected their lives after incarceration. Furthermore, the qualitative inquiry was carried out to explore the important psychological themes embedded in the interviews conducted with the incarcerated juveniles. Thus, a purposive sample of 8 incarcerated juveniles (boys only) was selected form Central Jail Sargodha, Pakistan. A set of open-ended questions for the in-depth interview (for exploring the manifested content and the latent content of the dreams of juveniles) was generated with the help of Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), i.e. with the assistance of a panel of SMEs which also facilitated in the committee approach during thematic analysis. The qualitative data collected through interviews was transcribed. After preparing the transcriptions, dream analysis and thematic analysis was carried out on the interview transcriptions. The dream analysis uncovered the latent content behind the manifested content of the prisoners’ dreams and the dreams clearly revealed the incarceration related experiences of juveniles. After the dream analysis, the thematic analysis of the interviews with jail inmates was also carried out. The major themes emerged from the thematic analysis of interviews included religious coping, family longing and social bonds, hope for release and freedom and psychological adaptation to incarceration. The study has shared important insights in the field of forensic and counselling psychology which can be incorporated particularly in forming rehabilitation programs, launching correctional mental health interventions and the psychological care of incarcerated juveniles.