Reconsidering a scale for fantasy-proneness: The inventory of childhood memories and imaginings

The adaptive function of fantasy: A proposal from the perspective of control-mastery theory.

“…In conclusion, these findings support the idea that fantasy plays a central and adaptive role in human life (Klinger et al, 2018), and there is no systematic relationship between the predisposition to fantasize and indicators of psychopathology (Klinger et al, 2005; Lynn & Rhue, 1988; Wilson & Barber, 1983). In particular, independent findings from studies about MSim (Hinshaw, 1991), daydreaming, and mind wandering (Domhoff & Fox, 2015) support the hypothesis that fantasy plays a central role in pursuing goals, developing, testing and modifying plans, mastering traumas and problems, regulating emotions, and developing a better adaptation to reality (Bell, 1983; Hinshaw, 1991).…”

“…Daydreams seem to play a central and adaptive role in human life (Klinger, 1971, 2009; Klinger et al, 2018). Indeed, although some research seems to show a relationship between the predisposition to fantasize and some indicators of psychopathology (Lynn & Rhue, 1988; Wilson & Barber, 1983), recent analyses of this relationship (Klinger, Henning, & Janssen, 2005) show that it could be attributed to problems in the factorial structure and in the content of several items of the assessment tool utilized (the Inventory of Childhood Memories and its variants; Wilson & Barber, 1981, 1983). Normally, fantasizing and mind wandering occur most often when our conscious mind is less occupied with other tasks or external stimuli (Andrews-Hanna, Reidler, Huang, & Buckner, 2010) and when the individual perceives that it is safe to decouple mental activity from external environment (Smallwood et al, 2013).…”