Sustaining fantasies and self-concept among college students

Harder, David W.; Zelin, Martin L.; Jampel, Robert M.; Heijn, Cornelius; Myerson, Paul; Bernstein, Seldon E.

doi:10.1002/1097-4679(198405)40:3<743::aid-jclp2270400318>3.0.co;2-6

Cited by 15 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…They are the repetitive fantasies, easily retrieved into consciousness, that an individual uses to create a situation that is either more ideal or counter to the situation that is causing the stress. These fantasies are viewed as necessary for adaptive coping because they enable the individual to restore self-esteem and emotional equilibrium in the face of stress (Harder & Zelin, 1984;Zelin et al, 1983). An example of a sustaining fantasy is the adolescent, rejected for a date by a girl, who finds himself imagining striking out the side in an important baseball game (Zelin et al, 1983).…”

Section: Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

Narcissism and the use of fantasy

Raskin

Novacek

1991

J. Clin. Psychol.

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This study examined the relationship between narcissism and the use of daydreams and fantasy in samples of 129 and 193 subjects. In sample 1, it was found that (1) narcissistic individuals experience achievement, heroic, sexual, hostile, self‐revelation, and future‐oriented daydreams; and (2) these six types of daydreams represent a coherent “arcissistic” fantasy style. In sample 2, narcissistic individuals who were experiencing higher levels of daily stress report using more self‐admiration, power and revenge, and suffering fantasies to cope with stress. The narcissistic theme of entitlement is uniquely related to narcissistic fantasy and the narcissists use of sustaining fantasies to cope with stress. Results are consistent with clinical literature on the narcissistic personality.

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Section: Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

Narcissism and the use of fantasy

Raskin

Novacek

1991

J. Clin. Psychol.

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“…Previous studies (Greenwald & Harder, 1994;Harder, Zelin, et al, 1984;Zelin et al, 1983) have found that Power and Revenge, Death and Illness, Suffering, and Withdrawal and Protection are all associated with measures of psychopathology. The IPI scales' correlation with psychopathology appears to be quite consistent, then, with the SFQ findings and also with a previous normative study (Singer & Antrobus, 1972) that linked IPI responses to measures of maladjustment.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sustaining fantasies, daydreams, and psychopathology

Greenwald

Harder

1995

J. Clin. Psychol.

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This study compared daydreaming to fantasies used for self‐comfort at times of stress in order to assess the degree of overlap in content between the two types of fantasy and to determine what types of daydreams are associated with indices of psychopathology. One hundred nineteen college undergraduates completed the Sustaining Fantasy Questionnaire (Zelin et al., 1983) and the Imaginal Processes Inventory (Singer & Antrobus, 1972), along with five general measures of maladjustment, which reflect ideational deviance, low or unstable self‐concept, and reliance upon regressive defenses. The results supported the hypotheses of considerable overlap in content and of parallels between the two types of fantasy. Three IPI scales—Fear Reaction, Bizarre, and Hostile—were observed to be particularly linked to psychopathology.

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“…Indeed, mental imagery may be one of the common sustaining strategies employed by people to handle distressing events. Sustaining fantasies may create an alternative "reality" (e.g., experiencing one's own attractiveness, being in a powerful position) that may counter the original stressprovoking event, reduce related distress, and restore selfesteem (e.g., Harder et al, 1984;Zelin et al, 1983). These fantasies are typically consistent with both self-reported daydreams (i.e., fantasies experienced during less stressful circumstances) and behavioral coping style (e.g., Greenwald & Harder, 1995.…”

Section: The Present Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

In and Out of a Daydream

Birnbaum

Mikulincer

Gillath

2011

Pers Soc Psychol Bull

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In this study, the authors examined the contribution of attachment orientations to the content of daily sexual fantasies. The two partners of 48 couples independently reported on their attachment orientations and provided daily reports on relationship interactions and sexual fantasies for a period of 21 days. Results showed that attachment anxiety was associated with wishes for intimacy and representations of others as more affectionate in sexual fantasies. Conversely, avoidant attachment was associated with avoidance-related wishes and representations of the self and others as more aggressive and alienated. Negative couple interactions increased habitual attachment-related wishes and self-representations. Specifically, during days characterized by negative couple interactions (relationship-damaging behaviors), attachment anxiety was associated with portrayal of the self as more helpless and avoidant attachment was associated with the expression of more avoidant wishes and portrayal of the self as less helpless. The discussion focuses on the manifestations of attachment-related interpersonal goals in sexual fantasies.

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Sustaining fantasies and self-concept among college students

Cited by 15 publications

References 7 publications

Narcissism and the use of fantasy

Narcissism and the use of fantasy

Sustaining fantasies, daydreams, and psychopathology

In and Out of a Daydream

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