Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

High-Level and Low-Level Awareness01:19

High-Level and Low-Level Awareness

623
Controlled processes in human consciousness represent high-alert mental states where individuals deliberately focus their attention on achieving specific goals. Controlled processes can be seen in situations like mastering new technology, where a person might become so absorbed that they ignore surrounding distractions. Such processes involve selective attention, requiring one to concentrate on particular elements of experience while disregarding others. These are governed by executive...
623
Magical Thinking01:29

Magical Thinking

184
Magical thinking encompasses the belief in assumptions that defy logical reasoning yet appear intuitively convincing. It is a common psychological phenomenon that persists across various cultural and individual contexts. While these assumptions contradict empirical evidence and scientific laws, they often serve meaningful psychological roles in promoting emotional resilience and a sense of control, especially under stress or uncertainty.Thought-Action Fusion and the Law of SimilarityA key...
184
Counterfactual Thinking01:19

Counterfactual Thinking

218
Counterfactual thinking is a cognitive process wherein individuals mentally reconstruct alternative versions of past events, often beginning with “what if” or “if only.” This reflective mechanism plays a significant role in shaping emotional experiences and guiding future behavior. Though typically triggered by unfavorable or unexpected outcomes, counterfactual thinking can also emerge in mundane, everyday decisions and experiences, revealing its deep entrenchment in...
218
Self-Discrepancy Theory02:45

Self-Discrepancy Theory

18.9K
One influential perspective on what motivates people's behavior is detailed in Tory Higgin's self-discrepancy theory (Higgins, 1987). He proposed that people hold disagreeing internal representations of themselves that lead to different emotional states.  
18.9K
Personality Disorders: Dependent and Obsessive-Compulsive01:24

Personality Disorders: Dependent and Obsessive-Compulsive

373
Dependent personality disorder and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder are two separate psychological conditions that influence behavior, relationships, and overall life functioning. Though both involve maladaptive behaviors, their core characteristics and motivations differ significantly.
 Dependent Personality Disorder
Dependent personality disorder is characterized by an excessive reliance on others to manage various aspects of life. Individuals with this disorder often struggle...
373
Schemas01:42

Schemas

12.3K
A schema is a mental construct consisting of a cluster or collection of related concepts (Bartlett, 1932). There are many different types of schemata, and they all have one thing in common: schemata are a method of organizing information that allows the brain to work more efficiently. When a schema is activated, the brain makes immediate assumptions about the person or object being observed.
12.3K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Phenomenology of the stream of thought: dissociable dynamic dimensions revealed through experience sampling.

Neuroscience of consciousness·2026
Same author

The think aloud paradigm reveals differences in the content, dynamics and conceptual scope of resting state thought in trait brooding.

Scientific reports·2021
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 13, 2026

Combining Computer Game-Based Behavioural Experiments With High-Density EEG and Infrared Gaze Tracking
13:40

Combining Computer Game-Based Behavioural Experiments With High-Density EEG and Infrared Gaze Tracking

Published on: December 16, 2010

17.1K

A Dynamic Approach to Compulsive Fantasy: Constraints and Creativity in "Maladaptive Daydreaming".

Jennifer I Burrell1, Emily Lawson2, Kalina Christoff Hadjiilieva1

  • 1Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada.

Behavioral Sciences (Basel, Switzerland)
|October 29, 2025
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Compulsive fantasy, distinct from daydreaming, involves immersive thoughts that can disrupt daily life. This phenomenon is characterized by automatic thought constraints, differing from typical daydreams.

Keywords:
compulsioncompulsive fantasycreativitydaydreamingfantasyimaginationmaladaptive daydreamingmind-wanderingspontaneous thoughtthe Dynamic Framework of Thought

More Related Videos

The Adventures of Fundi Intervention Based on the Cognitive and Emotional Processing in Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder Patients
05:48

The Adventures of Fundi Intervention Based on the Cognitive and Emotional Processing in Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder Patients

Published on: June 12, 2020

6.3K
Task Interruption and Resumption Paradigm for Testing the Activation and Pursuit of an Abstract Thinking Goal
06:45

Task Interruption and Resumption Paradigm for Testing the Activation and Pursuit of an Abstract Thinking Goal

Published on: April 18, 2017

6.6K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jan 13, 2026

Combining Computer Game-Based Behavioural Experiments With High-Density EEG and Infrared Gaze Tracking
13:40

Combining Computer Game-Based Behavioural Experiments With High-Density EEG and Infrared Gaze Tracking

Published on: December 16, 2010

17.1K
The Adventures of Fundi Intervention Based on the Cognitive and Emotional Processing in Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder Patients
05:48

The Adventures of Fundi Intervention Based on the Cognitive and Emotional Processing in Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder Patients

Published on: June 12, 2020

6.3K
Task Interruption and Resumption Paradigm for Testing the Activation and Pursuit of an Abstract Thinking Goal
06:45

Task Interruption and Resumption Paradigm for Testing the Activation and Pursuit of an Abstract Thinking Goal

Published on: April 18, 2017

6.6K

Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Cognitive Science
  • Neuroscience

Background:

  • Compulsive fantasy, often termed maladaptive daydreaming, involves intense fantasies interfering with daily functioning.
  • Existing frameworks lack a process-based analysis of compulsive fantasy dynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze compulsive fantasy using the Dynamic Framework of Thought (DFT).
  • To differentiate compulsive fantasy from daydreaming and creative thought.
  • To propose a process-based model for compulsive fantasy episodes.

Main Methods:

  • Expanded upon Christoff et al.'s Dynamic Framework of Thought (DFT).
  • Analyzed existing literature and online forum posts from self-identified maladaptive daydreamers.
  • Proposed a model for the unfolding of compulsive fantasy episodes.

Main Results:

  • Compulsive fantasy episodes are initiated by automatic constraints (affective salience, mental habits).
  • During episodes, automatic constraints remain high, while deliberate constraints are intermittently engaged.
  • Compulsive fantasy exhibits distinct mental dynamics compared to daydreaming, characterized by greater constraint.

Conclusions:

  • "Compulsive fantasy" is a more accurate term than "maladaptive daydreaming" due to differing mental dynamics.
  • Fantasy and daydreaming are not inherently harmful but can become problematic with sustained automatic thought constraints.
  • Understanding the dynamics of thought constraints is key to analyzing compulsive fantasy.