Here’s what it means if you kill people in your dreams

Having dreams where you kill other people is actually surprisingly common, researchers say – and in case you’re worrying, it doesn’t mean you’re a secret psychopath.

People who are violent in real life are more prone to violent dreams – but so are creative people, German researchers revealed.

Researchers at the Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf investigated violent nightmares – asking two groups of volunteers to keep dream diaries.

The researchers found that killing people is the most common violent act in dreams – but it mostly happens in self-defence.

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The researchers found that dreams of violence were common in people with a real history in violence… but also in people with creative achievements.

Lead author Jonas Mathes told IFLScience, ‘Nightmare dreamers who are also more creative may also be more creative in reacting to the aggressor actively.

‘Instead of running away, they fight back, or probably they are offending because they want to save or protect another dream character.’