Child Development - Lecture Eight

Question 1

Imaginary companions

Answer 1

An invisible character named and referred to in conversation with other persons or played with directly for a period of time, at least several months, having an air of reality for the child, but no apparently objective basis

Question 2

How man children have imaginary companions??

Answer 2

Up to 65% of preschool children have one or more

Question 3

Are imaginary companions more popular in boys or girls?

Answer 3

Tend to be slightly more common in girls than in boys

Question 4

What is the average age for appearance of imaginary companions

Answer 4

Between 2 and 4 years

Question 5

Which sibling is most likely to have imaginary companions?

Answer 5

First born and only children

Question 6

Imaginary companions and real friends

Answer 6

Most children do not play with their imaginary friends when other children are present

Question 7

Little was known about imaginary companions prior to the 20th century

Answer 7

Childhood was not seen as a period of play and exploration so imaginary companions may have been described in spiritual or religious terms

Question 8

Imaginary companions 1930’s

Answer 8

Parents were informed that imaginary companions were not to be encouraged

Question 9

Dr Spock on imaginary companions

Answer 9

Urged parents to supply more hugging and piggy-back rides to avoid imaginary companions, however, if children still had imaginary companions by 4 then to seek mental health help

Question 10

Majorie Taylor on imaginary companions

Answer 10

Taylor examined imaginary companions of children between 3 and 12 years-old
Around 16% of imaginary companions were based on real people
Many imaginary companions have magical powers or unusual physical traits
Around 3% of imaginary companions are enemies

Question 11

Why do children develop imaginary companions?

Answer 11

Act as scapegoats
Help children overcome fears or anxieties
Intermediate steps to controlling own behaviour
Developed as a surrogate for real friends/playmates/siblings

Question 12

The problem of parental report

Answer 12

Not generally a reliable source of information as parents don’t know the details
Large discrepancies found between parent and child accounts of imaginary companions

Question 13

Manosevitz et al (1973) on social and cognitive ability of children with imaginary companions

Answer 13

Are better at communicating with adults

Question 14

Taylor (1999) on social and cognitive ability of children with imaginary companions

Answer 14

Score more highly on verbal tests

Question 15

Taylor & Carlson (1997) on social and cognitive ability of children with imaginary companions

Answer 15

Have a more developed theory of mind at age 4

Question 16

There are no firmly established links between the presence of imaginary companions with

Answer 16

IQ and creativity

Question 17

Imaginary companions and reality differentiation

Answer 17

Sometimes it is assumed that a child who is absorbed in a fantasy about an imaginary companion is out of touch with reality – that somehow the line has become blurred

Question 18

Evidence for imaginary companions and reality differentiation

Answer 18

Boudin & Pratt (2001)

Question 19

Evidence against imaginary companions and reality differentiation

Answer 19

Taylor, Cartwright, & Carlson (1993)

Question 20

What happens to imaginary companions

Answer 20

Not spoken about
Replaced by a new imaginary companions
Child acquires more real friends and lose interest
Parents take control 
Gradually vanish

Question 21

Attachment objects

Answer 21

Young children may develop attachments to a variety of special inanimate objects, including soft toys and blankets. These are often referred to as attachment objects

Question 22

Mahalski (1983) on attachment objects

Answer 22

Assessed between 1.5 (90%) and 7 (43%), object attachment was shown to peak at around 2-years-old

Question 23

Why so children develop attachments to objects?

Answer 23

Act as transitional objects
Eases the passage between sleep and waking
Substitutes for primary caregiver

Question 24

Advantages for attachment objects

Answer 24

Reduce distress

Facilitate exploration