Is the "imaginary friend" uniquely American?

BlueSkyJaunte · 03-21-2004, 03:05 PM

My lovely wife was born and raised in Japan.

The other day I was telling her how my sister had an imaginary friend when she was really young. The rest of us knew this friend was imaginary because he was a boyfriend with blue hair.

My wife had never heard of this "imaginary friend" concept and believes it is uniquely (and bizarrely) American. I told her that I think it is probably a phenomenon found in Western society because we tend to emphasize how important it is for children to be creative and use their imaginations, while Eastern society tends to emphasize how important it is to conform.

So who's right? I know we have some members in Italy, the UK, Germany, Belgium, Sweden, Australia, New Zealand, and others that I'm forgetting (sorry!). Is the "imaginary friend" thing unique to American childhood?

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

I would comment, but I'm currently on the lamb from an imaginary friend killing spree that took place 25 years ago. Unfortunately the statue of limitations doesn't apply to capital crimes. The only thing I can say is they exist in Kuala Lumpur. Or at least they *used* to...

CamB · CamB's Garage

Chalk up "we got 'em" for NZ. I think - no personal experience.

Aurel · Aurel's Garage

Yes, it is typically american. For instance, G.W. Bush has an imaginary friend who tells him that he is doing a great job on the war on terror. Usually, imaginary friends disappears at or around age 12, but in some instances, they remain with the person, especially when its IQ is lesser than that of a 12 year old kid. Did I answer your question ?

(Sorry if I went a bit off topic

)

Aurel

BlueSkyJaunte · 03-21-2004, 05:30 PM

So, Aurel, you're saying in your experience with French children, there are none that have "imaginary friends"?

Aurel · Aurel's Garage

No, seriously now, I think all children have conversations with imaginary friends. And further, I think that those imaginary friends are not necessarily so imaginary. It may very well be that kids are capable of communication with disincarned entities such as spirits. Children are more in tune with their true self, and they may have extrasensorial capabilities that become lost when they reach adulthood. Except for mediums, who can keep that ability. I witnessed a very young son of a friend have such conversation, and I beleive kids really see and hear things that we don`t.

Aurel

BlueSkyJaunte · 03-21-2004, 06:11 PM

I just conveyed that the French and the Kiwis are not unfamiliar with "imaginary friends." She doesn't believe me.

Her response was, "Do these kids ever say things like, 'Don't sit there, that's where [my imaginary friend] Tommy is sitting!'"

lendaddy · 03-21-2004, 06:34 PM

Quote:

It may very well be that kids are capable of communication with disincarned entities such as spirits. Children are more in tune with their true self, and they may have extrasensorial capabilities that become lost when they reach adulthood. Except for mediums, who can keep that ability. I witnessed a very young son of a friend have such conversation, and I beleive kids really see and hear things that we don`t.

Uhhhhhh

WOODPIE · 03-21-2004, 06:54 PM

I was always picked last, by both my flesh-and-blood and imaginary friends. Rotten little basturds, all of 'em.

Ed

Isabo · 03-21-2004, 09:39 PM

American parents but brought up in the UK. My sister did until about age 10/11. I did age 15, but that was because I didn't want my mother to know I was with my motorcycle riding boyfriend

My daughter, Italian father, brought up in Italy did sometimes, until about age 8.
I think it's more to do with a need to socialise when kids don't have the opportunity or a need for an ideal friend than an American/western thing. I don't think any kids with imaginary friends truly believe they are real either.

tabs · 03-22-2004, 04:09 AM

I'll have to ask my friend Harvey....

Isabo · 03-22-2004, 04:25 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by tabs
I'll have to ask my friend Harvey....

Pookahs don't count, they're real

tabs · 03-22-2004, 04:35 AM

Thats why I'm going to ask him....I wouldn't dare ask my imaginary friends if they are real...they would feel insulted.

Sarah · Sarah's Garage

One of my sisters had an imaginary friend when she was younger which she did not consider "imaginary" but she stopped talking about it before junior high.

I also have another sister who knew she had the ability to communicate with people who have passed on. So...I have to say I agree with what Aurel said regarding "extrasensorial capabilities that become lost when they reach adulthood." Many people who believe they have psychic abilities say they were aware of it from a very early age. So I know there are people who do not believe in "psychic abilities" but there are also a lot of people who do. I actually find it very fascinating and very interesting.

tabs · 03-22-2004, 11:51 AM

ESP is no real mystery...people who use it, are merely paying attention to their intutive side. Man at one time had to rely on intution to stay alive, he had to be keenly aware of his surroundings in order not to be eaten by the Saber Tooth Tigers. When man became civilized, and setteld down into realitivily warm mud huts he was able to start idstancing himself from nature and no longer needed to rely on his instincts. So the third eye became dormant

tabs · 03-22-2004, 12:19 PM

Hey SOCAL....I don't exist...I'm imaginary...how do U explain that?

RickM · RickM's Garage

Quote:

"It may very well be that kids are capable of communication with disincarned entities such as spirits. Children are more in tune with their true self, and they may have extrasensorial capabilities that become lost when they reach adulthood. Except for mediums, who can keep that ability. I witnessed a very young son of a friend have such conversation, and I beleive kids really see and hear things that we don`t."

OK, My turn...I've been dying to to this too......

Moses · 03-22-2004, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Aurel
...and I beleive kids really see and hear things that we don`t.

Aurel

Either that, or they just like making ***** up.

BlueSkyJaunte · 02:02 PM

I just spoke to a coworker from India and he said he had never heard of such a thing until he saw "A Beautiful Mind". Then a discussion developed about the differences between schizophrenic delusions and imaginary friends. Near as I can tell, I think a child knows at some level that their friend doesn't exist. Whereas a delusion is, to the deluded, 100% real.

This East/West theory of mine seems to be holding up.

widebody911 · widebody911's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by nostatic
I would comment, but I'm currently on the lamb

I thought "on the lamb" was a Kiwi sheperd paedophile thing...