How Does IMAGINATION Work?
IMAGINE…
How does IMAGINATION work? What The IF… you had NO imagination!
Our guest TRACY GLEASON is a Developmental psychologist studying relationships, real and imagined, with a focus on young children's imaginary companions.
A professor of psychology at Wellesley College, Professor Gleason studies how young children understand their relationships with other people, and in particular, on the relationships that they have with imaginary companions. By examining how young children create imaginary relationships, she hopes to learn what they understand about real relationships.
Professor Gleason teaches courses in developmental and introductory psychology. She also teaches research methods in developmental psychology, in which students conduct projects at the Wellesley College Child Study Center. At the advanced level, Professor Gleason teaches seminars on early relationships and social imagination (the ways in which we use our imaginations to help us regulate and understand our relationships).
In her free time, Professor Gleason enjoys spending time with her husband, David Kaiser, and their twins, as well as playing oboe with the New Philharmonia Orchestra.
More on the If this Week:
1. Imagination?
We use our imagination in many aspects of our daily lives, but what exactly does "to imagine" encompass and what can it do specifically? Read this entry to find out in detail the various ways human imagination functions.
2. Animals
Can animals imagine like we do? This question gets into some tricky gray areas that scientists have been trying to navigate. Here are some stories of animals engaging in “pretend-play”. For a more primate-focused look at the subject, check out this article.
3. The Dark Side
It’s unsurprising that with such a powerful mental tool there comes an accompanying cost. For all that ways that imagination benefits our lives, it can also induce negative emotions such as anxiety. Find out more here.
4. Child Development
Imagination is an important factor and indicator in developmental psychology. For more on pretend-play and child development, check out this article. Here is also a study conducted on the relationship between imagination and emotion regulation.
5. Evolution
Imagination is not only crucial to our development as individuals but also as a species. To find out its history and the role it played in shaping the human race, here’s an archeological look at imagination.
Got an IF?
Want to have us consider your idea for a show topic? Send YOUR IF to us! Email us at feedback@whattheif.com and let us know what's in your imagination. No idea is too small, or too big!
Special Thanks
To Illia Zheng and Howard Zheng for their help with the show.
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