Imaginary Companions and Related Phenomena

Ames, Louise Bates; Learned, Janet

doi:10.1080/08856559.1946.10533385

Cited by 43 publications

(63 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…In line with prior research (Ames & Learned, 1946;Carlson & Taylor, 2005;Seiffge-Krenke, 1997;Svendsen, 1934;Vostrovsky, 1895), females, when compared with males, were slightly more likely to report having at least one imaginary companion at some point in their lives. We also investigated the frequency of imaginary companion reports across the four developmental time points.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

Play on: Retrospective Reports of the Persistence of Pretend Play Into Middle Childhood

Smith

Lillard

2012

Journal of Cognition and Development

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

Play on: Retrospective Reports of the Persistence of Pretend Play Into Middle Childhood

Smith

Lillard

2012

Journal of Cognition and Development

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“…In addition, boys seem to prefer personified objects and these were hardly ever the topic of parental messages (Ames & Learned, 1946;Taylor et al, 2004).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Parental Website-Descriptions of Children's Imaginary Companions

Jellesma¹,

Hoffenaar

2013

PSYCHOL BELG

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Past research shows that imaginary companions are a normal phenomenon in childhood and do not indicate risk for psychopathology. The aim of this study was to see if parents are nevertheless concerned about imaginary companions. Internet-forums were searched in English, German, and Dutch in order to answer this question. Parental messages about present imaginary companions were analysed. Analyses of 89 posts made on a diverse set of internet-forums for parents revealed that half the parents expressed concerns about imaginary companions, especially parents with children older than 4.5 years old. When the imaginary companion was older than the child, parents were more likely to be concerned. Almost all messages were about imaginary companions, which might indicate that parents are less concerned about personified objects. The results signify that parents need more information in order to ensure they know imaginary companions are a normal childhood-experience.

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“…W i t h others, the entire daily life of the child (and of the family) may be pervaded with these companions. One child may for instance have several imaginary animal companions, and several different human companions and may also play, himself, the r6le of an animal and/or of another person, and may also personalize objects ( 1 ) . Imagination is also expressed in dramatic play with blocks, housekeeping materials and also in work with art materials.…”

Section: Highly Imaginativementioning

confidence: 99%