InDePickWest
Im Not American
“Maladaptive daydreaming (MD) is defined as ‘‘extensive fantasy activity that replaces human interaction and/or interferes with academic, interpersonal or vocational functioning” (Somer, 2002, p. 199). Individuals with MD spend hours completely absorbed in highly structured and very fanciful daydreams, often accompanied by stereotypical movements, hindering functioning and participation in everyday life. Despite the large and growing number of online international forums and websites on which these individuals profess to have been secretly suffering from maladaptive daydreaming for years (Somer, 2013), only very limited scientific research has addressed this phenomenon. The purpose of the current study was to develop a statistically sound measure of MD that facilitates the scientific study of this under-researched construct. Moreover, it is further our hope that more research will lead to increased awareness and, in the long-run, the professional recognition of this clinical phenomenon.
Maladaptive daydreaming is part of the larger cognitive phenomenon of daydreaming, which constitutes a highly prevalent, normal mental activity experienced by 96% of all Americans (Singer, 1966). This mental process is claimed to encompass almost half of all human thought (Killingsworth & Gilbert, 2010), and the average person seems to activate hundreds of daydreaming episodes per day (Klinger, 2009).
Most research today addresses the underlying cognitive activities by studying default mode network activation patterns (the brain regions that are active when the individual is not focused on the outside world) and mind-wandering (Raichle et al., 2001); eye movement and pupil dimensions during mind-wandering (Smallwood et al., 2011); decoupling of attention from perceptual input (e.g., Smallwood et al., 2012); as well as cognitive control failure and its deleterious effects on academic performance and mood (McVay & Kane, 2010).
I've always had a wild imagination growing up and used to have the craziest stories.
When you're a kid it's acceptable
As an adult it's just plain ol creepy
Maladaptive daydreaming is part of the larger cognitive phenomenon of daydreaming, which constitutes a highly prevalent, normal mental activity experienced by 96% of all Americans (Singer, 1966). This mental process is claimed to encompass almost half of all human thought (Killingsworth & Gilbert, 2010), and the average person seems to activate hundreds of daydreaming episodes per day (Klinger, 2009).
Most research today addresses the underlying cognitive activities by studying default mode network activation patterns (the brain regions that are active when the individual is not focused on the outside world) and mind-wandering (Raichle et al., 2001); eye movement and pupil dimensions during mind-wandering (Smallwood et al., 2011); decoupling of attention from perceptual input (e.g., Smallwood et al., 2012); as well as cognitive control failure and its deleterious effects on academic performance and mood (McVay & Kane, 2010).
I've always had a wild imagination growing up and used to have the craziest stories.
When you're a kid it's acceptable
As an adult it's just plain ol creepy