I understand stabilization to be preventing the dream from disappearing, and hence one would remain in that dream for longer (if it is unstable, the person wakes up). I understand clarification as making the dream more vivid. I have read that techniques to stabilize the dream also make the dream more vivid (or are meant to do both). Are these true?
Hi Beeclock, I think the major difference between the two is the underlying psychology involved. Stabilization often requires the dreamer to concentrate on being relaxed in the dream, as heightened arousal often leads to the dreamer waking up. Thus, the dreamer often slows down and relaxes in the dream state in order to stabilize what is going on and stay in the perfect state of RM. Clarification involves concentration and focus, and in this case the dreamer also slows down but instead of focusing on relaxing they focus on focusing. These two techniqus are certainly cousins to say the least, and often done together - in fact easily done together - but some people need to do only one or the other, while others need to do both.
Oh yeah, stabilization generally helps with clairity and viceversa, both work on roughly the same principle anyway.