The Influences Of Imaginary Companion On 5 To 6 Years Old Children’s Prosocial Behavior

Early 20 th century,scholars gradually concerned about the phenomenon of children’s Imaginary companion.In 1934, Svendsen published a study on Imaginary companions in true sense,proposed operational definition of Imaginary companions,provided the foundation for later further study.In later studies, scholars summarized hypothetical partner as two types: one is invisible, without real existence but relying on fantasy;the second is objective kind,existed in the real world, is given anthropomorphic meaning by children.Some scholars also included ‘role as a partner’ in the scope of Imaginary companions.This study was designed to get the basic situation of children Imaginary companions through structured questionnaires for children of 5-6 years, and on this basis to further explore the influence of Imaginary companions on the development of children’s Pro social behavior.First,the Parent structure questionnaires were issued to the parents of infants.Secondly,according to valid questionnaires recovered,made structured interviews with the corresponding kids,recorded the existence of an Imaginary companion and the type of him, then did a secondary confirmation about the findings.Finally, the teachers were distributed children’s pro-social behavior rating scales.Based on the differences in age,gender and other demographic variables of tested children,further explored pro-social behavior difference between the children with imaginary companions and kids without partners.Through this research, the following conclusions are drawn:(1) 34.3% of the children have Imaginary companions in 108 tested 5-6 years old children.The phenomenon of virtual partners in children aged 5-6 is very common,children’s Imaginary companion in the age of distribution gap is not large, female children are more inclined to the phenomenon of Imaginary companions.(2) In the investigation of the parents’ views of children Imaginary companion, 10.8% of parents of children on an Imaginary companion phenomena concerned, 54.1% of parents of children of this hypothetical phenomenon partners no special feeling that only 29.7% of parents of children imaginary phenomenon is supportive partner.(3) In the characteristic aspects, children have the similar options.Children tend to choose younger Imaginary companions with same sex.They prefer to be able to "take care" of the partners. In terms of the virtual partners’ number,kids are less likely to have multiple Imaginary companions.(4) Children’s Imaginary companions are mostly based on the kind exists, accounting for 81.1% of the children who have an Imaginary companion, only a few children’s Imaginary companion is completely invisible form of existence.(5) On the relationship of an Imaginary companion and role playing, 83.8% of children with Imaginary companions have role-playing phenomenon; role-playing children much tend to have an Imaginary companion.Imaginary companion as a complex form of pretend play, there is a close link between it and role-playing.(6) In terms of Imaginary companions impact on the pro-social behavior of 5-6 years old children, except of age and gender, the children with Imaginary companions were found to have significantly higher scores on the pro-social behavior than the children without Imaginary companions.