DEVELOPMENT OF IMAGINATIVE BEHAVIOR - IMPLICATIONS OF PLAY FOR A THEORY OF FANTASY

Reviews observations and theories concerning the developmental course of play and fantasy and examines evidence on play for elements applicable to a theory of fantasy. In important aspects of content and structure, play resembles fantasy at corresponding points in development and appears to reflect individuals' current focal concerns. In the absence of evidence that play and fantasy are motivated solely to attain extrinsic goals, the motivation for their occurrence may provisionally be considered autotelic, their momentum inherent in the capacity for activity and modulated by the organism's momentary needs for activation. Fantasy may be phenomenologically effortless, and play less effortful than other activity. Children's play may contribute to the solution of instrumental problems, problems of emotional integration, and problems of experiential continuity. (2 p. ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved). © 1969 American Psychological Association.