Dreams of Former Romantic Partners: A Critical Narrative Review of Memory, Attachment, And Psychological Closure
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.65150/EP-jsshrs/V2E9/2026-06Keywords:
attachment, autobiographical memory, dreaming, emotional processing, psychological closure, relationship dissolutionAbstract
This article examines why former romantic partners may continue to appear in dreams long after a relationship has ended, particularly when individuals perceive themselves as having moved forward in their lives. A critical narrative review was conducted to examine existing research on dreaming, autobiographical memory, emotional processing, romantic relationship dissolution, attachment, psychological closure, and traumatic loss. The review indicates that former-partner dreams may arise from the continued accessibility or reactivation of autobiographical memories associated with emotionally significant relationships. Attachment processes, incomplete psychological closure, and distress following particularly difficult relationship experiences may also contribute in some circumstances. However, the occurrence of a former-partner dream alone does not establish unresolved romantic feelings, continuing attachment, or psychological trauma. Greater interpretive value lies in the individual's waking experiences, particularly persistent yearning, rumination, intrusive memories, contact-seeking, or continuing distress. The article therefore argues that former-partner dreams should not be interpreted through a single psychological explanation. Their significance is better understood through the interaction between memory, emotion, attachment, personal meaning, and present psychological functioning. This perspective offers a more cautious and nuanced understanding of why a former romantic partner may reappear in dreams years after a relationship has ended.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Hayuni Mazlan, Lukman Zawawi Mohamad, Norshahira Osman, Ateerah Abdul Razak (Author)
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