Invisible friends can provide endless fun to many children, and they can also be a source of entertainment for adults. Parents are frequently charmed and amused by the imaginative and colourful creations of their children, which show incredible variation.
Psychological research on imaginary friends has documented very diverse characters, such as:
- Jellia (a girl full of jelly).
- The Butcher Shop Guy (a fat, friendly man with green skin and one eye).
- Joshua (a possum who lives in San Fransisco).
- Nobby (a 160-year-old businessman).
- Dipper (a sparkly, stripy dolphin who lives on a star).
What are the Differences Between Children With and Without Imaginary Friends?
A common misconception is that children who create imaginary friends do so because of an inability to interact with real children due to shyness. However, studies have shown that children with imaginary friends actually tend to be less shy than children without (although some studies show no significant difference in shyness), and tend to have more real friends.
Imaginary friends, then, do not act as substitutes for more tangible playmates, despite their obvious advantages (they do not insist on sharing toys and sweets, nor do they insist on taking their turn in a game). Imaginary friends are more likely to be played with when real friends are not available. A clear case of this was a little girl who had a real friend called Rachel and an imaginary version of this friend called "Fake Rachel."
Having an imaginary friend is often seen as a sign of creativity in children. There are studies that have shown greater creativity in children with imaginary friends, although the differences found are not particularly strong. It should be remembered that having an imaginary friend is just one of the many creative outlets for children, so not all highly creative children engage in this type of play.
Gender Differences in Imaginary Friends
Many claim that girls are more likely than boys to have imaginary friends, but the gender difference is not as simple as this. The timing of this type of play seems to contribute to the perceived gender difference, with boys creating imaginary companions later than girls. Also, boys are more likely to pretend to be a character, rather than treating the character as a separate entity.
Gender differences also exist in the type of imaginary friends children have. For example, boys tend to create highly competent and strong characters. Girls, however, often create characters that are incompetent and require caretaking. This is thought to be due to gender role stereotypes. Boys are expected to be strong and powerful, while girls are expected to nurture, and this affects the type of imaginary companion that's created.
Why Do Children Create Imaginary Friends?
There are many reasons why a child may create imaginary friends, but the most obvious one is fun and companionship. Imaginary friends can provide a source of entertainment that can be accessed at will. Imaginary friends are more common in only children, perhaps because these children have a greater desire for companionship due to their lack of siblings, or simply because they have more time alone in which to engage in this type of play.
Imaginary friends also aid wish fulfillment by allowing children to experience, on some level, a life with fewer limitations. Children often report that their imaginary friends never get told when to go to bed, while others are never prevented from eating too many sweets. Imaginary friends can also be free from physical restrictions. For example, they may be able to run fast or jump very high.
Imaginary friends can also help children deal with fears. In one case, a girl overcame her fear of animals by creating an imaginary friend called "Laughing Tiger", who was very gentle and compliant. Another child overcame her fear of ghosts when she began carrying around a box containing a "baby ghost".
Where Do Imaginary Friends Go?
Imaginary friends often contribute significantly to childhood activities, especially preschool play. They are created for many different reasons, but the one thing they have in common is their eventual disappearance. It seems that there is rarely a well-marked event that leads to the disappearance of imaginary friends. Usually, imaginary friends simply fade away. Sometimes they are forgotten, but sometimes they are remembered even in adult life, in vivid detail, and with great affection.
References:
Carter, Rita (2008). "Are invisible friends healthy for children?" Women.timesonline.co.uk. Accessed 10th June, 2010.
Taylor, Marjorie (2001). Imaginary Companions and the Children Who Create Them. Oxford University Press.
Taylor, Marjorie; Cartwright, Bridget; Carlson, Stephanie (1993). "A Developmental Investigation of Children's Imaginary Companions". Developmental Psychology.
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