Mental ExcursionsMental ExcursionsEverything created Everything created

by manby manwas first awas first a Thought Thought

The Power of The Power of ImaginationImagination

Fantasy- the quintessential Fantasy- the quintessential human trait, enabling our human trait, enabling our survivalsurvival• Ranges from Ranges from realisticrealistic based on based on

sensory experiences to sensory experiences to abstractabstract, , unrecognizableunrecognizable

• ActiveActive – you produce your own imagery – you produce your own imagery

• PassivePassive – you take in others’ images – you take in others’ images (Receptive)(Receptive)

• Even imagining our own deaths can Even imagining our own deaths can enhance life todayenhance life today

Positive uses of fantasyPositive uses of fantasy

• Experiencing pleasure Experiencing pleasure • Solving problemsSolving problems• Seeing oneself as successful, giving Seeing oneself as successful, giving

one confidence to try something newone confidence to try something new• Identity developmentIdentity development• Empowerment – the empty chairEmpowerment – the empty chair• Stress reduction Stress reduction • Enhancing survivalEnhancing survival• Gratification Gratification • Cultural archetypes- transmits values Cultural archetypes- transmits values

of cultureof culture

Child’s Use of FantasyChild’s Use of Fantasy• Function of fantasy is to explore our Function of fantasy is to explore our

relationship to the worldrelationship to the world• Children are developing personal identity Children are developing personal identity

through imagination- trying them on for sizethrough imagination- trying them on for size– 18 – 38 mo. Child is creating a multi-sensory 18 – 38 mo. Child is creating a multi-sensory

internal world of ideas, symbols, conceptsinternal world of ideas, symbols, concepts– 2 – 4.5 yr. make believe play is used to manage 2 – 4.5 yr. make believe play is used to manage

emotions, ultimately to develop empathyemotions, ultimately to develop empathy• Deficits in fantasy development can result Deficits in fantasy development can result

in inhibited thought, later developing into in inhibited thought, later developing into drug abuse as a free space for acting outdrug abuse as a free space for acting out

• During adolescence, fantasy can allow During adolescence, fantasy can allow career development career development

The fairy taleThe fairy tale

• Provides a parable of the dangers & Provides a parable of the dangers & challenges of growing upchallenges of growing up

• Offers dimensions to the child’s Offers dimensions to the child’s imagination not possible imagination not possible independentlyindependently

• Offers vicarious learning/ concrete Offers vicarious learning/ concrete consequences: scripts for consequences: scripts for self control self control

Religion and mythReligion and myth

• Beliefs that people embrace that seem Beliefs that people embrace that seem to violate the laws of nature to violate the laws of nature

• Systems of informal social controlSystems of informal social control– (Law- system of formal control)(Law- system of formal control)

• Enhance survival of a group by encouraging Enhance survival of a group by encouraging cohesiveness of the group, submission to a cohesiveness of the group, submission to a group value above the individualgroup value above the individual

• Powerful wish-fulfilling device for easing/ Powerful wish-fulfilling device for easing/ accepting life’s current burdensaccepting life’s current burdens

• Most religions envision an afterlife/ describe Most religions envision an afterlife/ describe the power of prayer to change human the power of prayer to change human experiencesexperiences

What specifically enabled us to What specifically enabled us to survive? Cognitive tools:survive? Cognitive tools:

• The ability to recognize creatures that The ability to recognize creatures that cause harmcause harm– Agent detectionAgent detection

• Capacity to develop causal explanations Capacity to develop causal explanations for natural eventsfor natural events– Causal reasoningCausal reasoning

• Recognition that other beings have minds Recognition that other beings have minds of their ownof their own– Theory of mindTheory of mind

Evolutionary value of belief in God:Evolutionary value of belief in God:Beliefs parallel cognitive Beliefs parallel cognitive developmentdevelopment

• Concept of God, permanent & immortalConcept of God, permanent & immortal– Infant’s concept of object permanenceInfant’s concept of object permanence

• Religious symbols showing faithReligious symbols showing faith– 2 yr old use of symbols in language/ play2 yr old use of symbols in language/ play

• Religious ritualsReligious rituals– Child learning rules of play/ games/ Child learning rules of play/ games/

reasonreason

• Idealistic visions & standards of Idealistic visions & standards of behavior behavior– Adolescents consider the ideal & Adolescents consider the ideal &

challenge beliefs challenge beliefs

Einstein believed the elements Einstein believed the elements of religion parallel the basic 4 of religion parallel the basic 4 elements of science:elements of science:

• ConservationConservation

• SymbolismSymbolism

• Ritual or experimentationRitual or experimentation

• Theory Theory

• Religion and science are alternative means Religion and science are alternative means of applying 4 basic modes of thought of applying 4 basic modes of thought

• Einstein believed religion, arts, & science Einstein believed religion, arts, & science all ennobled man’s existence, leading us all ennobled man’s existence, leading us to individual freedomto individual freedom

Personal fantasyPersonal fantasy

• Identification with others: celebrities, Identification with others: celebrities, athletes, religious/ political leadersathletes, religious/ political leaders

• Can result in pathology, stalkingCan result in pathology, stalking

• Can result in an avenue for venting Can result in an avenue for venting feelings- fan behavior, dreamingfeelings- fan behavior, dreaming

The evolution of The evolution of electronic mediaelectronic media

• TV dominated through the mid-1990sTV dominated through the mid-1990s• Now includes cell phones, iPods, game Now includes cell phones, iPods, game

systems, IMs, Web social networks, email, systems, IMs, Web social networks, email, & massively multiplayer online role-& massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs)playing games (MMORPGs)

• Teens use this media most at a time when Teens use this media most at a time when they are trying to develop a unique they are trying to develop a unique identity, substituting cyber personas for identity, substituting cyber personas for face-to-face interactionsface-to-face interactions

• Since craving for intimacy is a key to Since craving for intimacy is a key to addictive behavior, fantasy relationships addictive behavior, fantasy relationships can overwhelm the effort to create real can overwhelm the effort to create real relationshipsrelationships

Problems with excessive TV Problems with excessive TV viewingviewing

• Information parsed into sound bites, reducing Information parsed into sound bites, reducing the complexity of issuesthe complexity of issues

• Can be used as a political device to dominate Can be used as a political device to dominate a passive & reactive societya passive & reactive society

• Produces a hypnotic-addictive effect- may be Produces a hypnotic-addictive effect- may be related to increase in ADHDrelated to increase in ADHD

• Limited potential for education/improvementLimited potential for education/improvement• Sex and violence make extreme Sex and violence make extreme

behaviors seem common. behaviors seem common. • Desensitizes the viewer.Desensitizes the viewer.

Video games are more Video games are more activeactive• They require full attention They require full attention • They can illustrate basic fears/ themes: They can illustrate basic fears/ themes:

conquest and defeat; pursuit & flight; conquest and defeat; pursuit & flight; facing fears; heroic struggle; escapefacing fears; heroic struggle; escape

• But because the reward is fairly regular, But because the reward is fairly regular, gaming will increasegaming will increase

• Life is rarely as rewardingLife is rarely as rewarding• Games are pre-scripted, restricting Games are pre-scripted, restricting

imaginationimagination

Massively Multiplayer Online Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing GamesRole-Playing Games

• Worlds you can develop & control; Worlds you can develop & control; engagement with people around the worldengagement with people around the world

• Online games are more popular than films Online games are more popular than films in dollars spent (gaming virtual dollars $2.1 in dollars spent (gaming virtual dollars $2.1 B)B)

• Virtual property is viewed as status symbolsVirtual property is viewed as status symbols• Games are used as escape/ opportunities Games are used as escape/ opportunities

they can’t create in real lifethey can’t create in real life• Anonymity allows for wish-fulfillment Anonymity allows for wish-fulfillment

& personality development not & personality development not possible in real life possible in real life

• Players choose game environments Players choose game environments according to their coping styles & according to their coping styles & needs: excitement, calm needs: excitement, calm

World of WarcraftWorld of Warcraft

• 2008 – 9.3 million players @ $14.99/mo.2008 – 9.3 million players @ $14.99/mo.

• Quests are faced with rewards of in-Quests are faced with rewards of in-game money, items, status, skill-game money, items, status, skill-development (professions) & development (professions) & progressive difficultyprogressive difficulty

• Players describe the hook as being Players describe the hook as being escape from loneliness, failure in real escape from loneliness, failure in real lifelife

Second LifeSecond Life

• Online habitats where one can Online habitats where one can shop, play, eat, gamble, have sex, shop, play, eat, gamble, have sex, even wed even wed

• Players can disappear into Avatars createdPlayers can disappear into Avatars created• Allows for experimentationAllows for experimentation• Compulsive playing affects 6% of Internet Compulsive playing affects 6% of Internet

usersusers• Biggest problems are for relationships, Biggest problems are for relationships,

sleep disruption, impairing work/ schoolsleep disruption, impairing work/ school– Lost productivity at work as people play online Lost productivity at work as people play online

instead of workinstead of work– 30% of companies have fired people for 30% of companies have fired people for

computer misusecomputer misuse– Wrongful termination suits describe the Wrongful termination suits describe the

Internet as a “virtual intoxicant”Internet as a “virtual intoxicant”

Negative effects of Negative effects of online addictions online addictions

• Affects social developmentAffects social development• Lowers self-esteemLowers self-esteem• Enhances social inadequacy, social anxietyEnhances social inadequacy, social anxiety• Strong correlation between hours spent Strong correlation between hours spent

online and decline of face to face online and decline of face to face relationships (especially if online behavior relationships (especially if online behavior includes pornography) includes pornography)

• Risks of being conned by anonymous Risks of being conned by anonymous “friends/ lovers”/ online victimization“friends/ lovers”/ online victimization

• Internet relationships are illusions- no one Internet relationships are illusions- no one has to do the real work of a relationship.has to do the real work of a relationship.

Violent video gamesViolent video games

• Interactive participation in fantasized Interactive participation in fantasized violence with no risk of harm to shooterviolence with no risk of harm to shooter

• Leaves player bored by life, needing Leaves player bored by life, needing greater stimulationgreater stimulation

• Short-circuits child’s natural Short-circuits child’s natural imaginationimagination

• Dehumanizing & desensitizingDehumanizing & desensitizing• Characters are objectified, seen as no Characters are objectified, seen as no

longer having needs for respect, carelonger having needs for respect, care

Positive effects Positive effects

• Most youth use Internet to Most youth use Internet to connect with friends connect with friends

• Useful for research if they learn how Useful for research if they learn how to discern valid sitesto discern valid sites

• The Sims is best selling video game The Sims is best selling video game in history ($100 million) which shows in history ($100 million) which shows consequences of creating worldsconsequences of creating worlds