The Imaginary Playmate: A Questionnaire Study

Hurlock, Elizábeth B.; Burstein, Marcy

doi:10.1080/08856559.1932.10533102

Cited by 29 publications

(35 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…Ironically, however, it also marked the near end of it: A dearth of theoretical discussions of pretend companions persisted over the next 50 years. Nevertheless, during the first decade of the century, some theoretical work continued to be published within the context of empirical data (e.g., Griffiths, 1935Griffiths, /1970Hurlock & Burstein, 1932;Jersild, Markey, & Jersild, 1933;Markey, 1935), but only limited discussions appeared thereafter, except for psychoanalytic writing that extended Wickes's approach (e.g., Benson, 1980;Myers, 1976;Nagera, 1969;Sperling, 1954).…”

Section: Early Theoretical Workmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Even though a few other empirical investigations were conducted before that time (e.g., Hurlock & Burstein, 1932), Svendsen's analysis was seminal in that it clearly identified the variables to be scrutinized and established an operational definition that has served as a standard and common reference point ever since:…”

Section: Earliest Empirical Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the 1930s, a few other empirical endeavors were published (e.g., Hurlock & Burstein, 1932;Jersild et al, 1933). In 1935, Griffiths (1935Griffiths ( /1970) performed 1,069 interviews of fifty 5-year-olds in London and Brisbane regarding their imagination and related behavior.…”

Section: Earliest Empirical Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Pretend Companions (Imaginary Playmates): The Emergence of a Field

Klausen

Passman

2007

The Journal of Genetic Psychology

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Over the last century, investigation of pretend companions has developed as an emerging field. Although pretend companions are a commonplace childhood phenomenon and perhaps an epitome of children's imagination, that topic received little attention before the end of the 19th century. Only since the last decade has attention to it truly begun to burgeon. Broad developments in the history of thought and research on pretend companions fall into 6 stages: (a) early history, (b) early theory, (c) earliest empirical research, (d) midcentury lull, (e) a renewal of empirical attention, and (f) emergence into a significant field whose investigators are committed to reliable, increasingly sophisticated methods and to the examination of pretend companions within the broader context of pretend play. Following depictions of the field's past and current status, the authors present future directions for its progress.

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Section: Early Theoretical Workmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Earliest Empirical Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Pretend Companions (Imaginary Playmates): The Emergence of a Field

Klausen

Passman

2007

The Journal of Genetic Psychology

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“…Despite claims that these companions are experienced by as many as 65% of children (Mauro, 1990;D.G. The lack of systematic investigations in early research (e.g., Vostrovsky, 1895) and the differing data collection procedures utilised in later studies (e.g., Ames & Learned, 1946;Hurlock & Burstein, 1932;Jersild, Markey, & Jersild, 1933;Svendsen, 1934) have led to inconsistencies in the interpretation of results in the imaginary companion literature. Singer, 1990) there is still very little empirical data on this phenomenon.…”

Section: La Trobe Universitymentioning

confidence: 99%

A systematic assessment of the specific fears, anxiety level, and temperament of children with imaginary companions

Bouldin

Pratt

2002

Australian Journal of Psychology

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This study investigated the specific fears, anxiety level, and temperament characteristics of children with and without imaginary companions. Mothers of children with and without imaginary companions (37 mothers in each condition) whose children were aged between 3.2 and 8.7 years were asked to complete the Fear Survey Schedule for Children -II Parent (FSSC-IIP), the Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale -Parent (RCMAS-P), and the Short Temperament Scale for Children (STSC). Examination of mothers' ratings indicated no differences between groups on the fear and temperament scales. The scores for anxiety were significantly higher for imaginary companion children as a result of differences on the concentration and worry-over sensitivity subscales. However, the mean scores were still within the normal range. Consequently, it is concluded that whereas the presence of imaginary companions may be associated with some difference in levels of anxiety, overall there is no indication that children with imaginary companions experience emotional difficulties.fascinating aspect of children's development involves the occurrence of the imaginary companion. Despite claims that these companions are experienced by as many as 65% of children (Mauro,

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“…A number of studies have shown that male abuse survivors tend more than female survivors to be aggressive against people they are closely related to [e.g., 36,37]. Empirical data on gender differences in fantasy involvement is extremely scarce and suggests a somewhat higher proclivity for imaginary activity among females [34,38,39]. Because none of our respondents had any known history of violent behavior, we wondered whether female victims of child abuse tend to utilize fantasy involvement as a vehicle for processing pent up rage.…”

Section: The Role Of Spirituality Imagery and Fantasy In Didmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Ethnographic Study of Former Dissociative Identity Disorder Patients

Somer

Nave

2001

Imagination, Cognition and Personality

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Three therapists interviewed five of their former DID patients in a semistructured depth interview. Two respondents were Israeli, two were North American, and one was Dutch. Prior to therapy their sense of self had been vague at best and was described as an uncomfortable feeling of internal void. They all had at least rudimentary recollections of their childhood suffering. They were more likely to believe their memories of childhood abuse if they succeeded in experiencing the feelings connected with those images. Fantasy, spirituality, and religion played a role in helping them manage their existence. Their integration process was incremental, as they gradually embraced the disowned aspects and functions of the self. Dissociative and ego state processes were still present during the period of data collection. The results are discussed in terms of the convergence of borderline and dissociative symptomatology, the role of fantasy and spirituality in DID, therapeutic processes, and patterns of treatment outcome.

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The Imaginary Playmate: A Questionnaire Study

Cited by 29 publications

References 4 publications

Pretend Companions (Imaginary Playmates): The Emergence of a Field

Pretend Companions (Imaginary Playmates): The Emergence of a Field

A systematic assessment of the specific fears, anxiety level, and temperament of children with imaginary companions

An Ethnographic Study of Former Dissociative Identity Disorder Patients

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