Daydream

Daydream is a short-term detachment from one's immediate surroundings, during which a person's contact with reality is blurred and partially substituted by a visionary fantasy, especially one of happy, pleasant thoughts, hopes or ambitions, imagined as coming to pass, and experienced while awake.

Definition

A daydream is a dreamlike musing or fantasy while awake, especially of the fulfillment of wishes or hopes. In a daydream, the person's contact with reality is blurred and partially substituted by a visionary fantasy, especially one of happy, pleasant thoughts, hopes or ambitions, imagined as coming to pass, and experienced while awake.

Causes

Daydreaming can be a result of a number of factors. It can be triggered by boredom, lack of stimulation, or when the mind is occupied with thoughts of a personal nature. Daydreaming can also be a method of stress relief, providing a temporary escape from a current situation or task.

Effects

While daydreaming can provide a temporary escape from the tasks at hand, it can also have negative effects. It can lead to procrastination, and can disrupt productivity. On the other hand, daydreaming can also stimulate creativity and problem-solving, making it beneficial in certain situations.

Related Concepts

• Maladaptive Daydreaming: This is a condition identified by extensive fantasy activity that replaces human interaction and/or interferes with academic, interpersonal, or vocational functioning.
• Mind Wandering: This is the experience of thoughts not remaining on a single topic for a long period of time, particularly when people are engaged in an attention-demanding task.

See Also

• Dream
• Fantasy (psychology)
• Imagination
• Reverie

References

Daydream Resources
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