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Thinking about Fantasy: Are Children Fundamentally Different Thinkers and Believers from Adults?
Author(s) -
Woolley Jacqueline D.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
child development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.103
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1467-8624
pISSN - 0009-3920
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-8624.1997.tb01975.x
Subject(s) - fantasy , psychology , magical thinking , developmental psychology , social psychology , literature , art , medicine , alternative medicine , pathology
Young children are often viewed as being unable to differentiate fantasy from reality. This article reviews research on both children's and adults beliefs about' fantasy as well as their tendency to engage in what is thought of as “magical thinking.” It is suggested that children are not fundamentally different from adults in their ability to distinguish fantasy from reality: Both children and adults entertain fantastical beliefs and also engage in magical thinking. Suggestions are offered as to how children and adults may differ in this domain, and an agenda for future research is offered.