Imaginary Friends and the People Who Create Them

Do you have children who create imaginary friends? Did you create imaginary friends as a child? In this expanded second edition, Marjorie Taylor and Naomi R. Aguiar provide an update on the research into imaginary friends that has taken place in the past twenty-five years.

Imaginary Friends and the People Who Create Them explores how imaginary friends function in the lives of both children and adults, with rich descriptions and illustrations, and delves into the research on related phenomena, such as imaginary worlds, relationships with media characters, and the creation of characters in fiction writing. Featuring exclusive interviews with well-known fiction writers, including Philip Pullman, Sue Grafton, and Ursula Hegi, this book considers how imaginary friends are related to the development of creativity, social understanding, and the fantasy/reality distinction. It also looks ahead to address the future of research on imaginary friends, including relationships with artificially intelligent systems and the role of imaginary friends in coping with trauma, while dispelling the myths that surround the concept of imaginary friends and those who create them.

If you have a child who creates imaginary friends, had an imaginary friend yourself as a child, or indeed still do, you will find this updated edition very helpful in understanding the role imaginary friends play in the lives of children and adults alike.