Psychologists Study Daydreaming in Russian Cultural Context

Researchers at HSE University, having examined the role of daydreaming in the Russian cultural context, conclude that constructive daydreaming can help people with gaining insight into their life's trajectory, fostering personal growth, discovering existential meaning, enhancing psychological wellbeing, and cultivating a balanced temporal perspective. The study findings have been published in Cultural-Historical Psychology.

Daydreaming is a profoundly significant personal experience, yet it is not always viewed positively by science. Thus, psychologists often perceive daydreams as a means of escaping from complex reality into fruitless fantasies, while teachers view daydreaming as a cause of inattention and learning failures.

Conducting empirical studies into the phenomenon of daydreaming is a challenging task for researchers. On one hand, a daydream may seem fleeting and insignificant; on the other hand, it remains hidden from outsiders and intertwined with personal experiences. Researchers differentiate among several types of daydreams. A hedonistic daydream is associated with the desire to experience pleasure here and now. For instance, on a cloudy and chilly day, an individual may daydream about vacationing on the seaside. A compensatory daydream aims to bridge the gap between one's personal values and reality, aiming to alleviate frustration. Many young people's dreams of fame, success, and a just society compensate for self-doubt, acute awareness of one's shortcomings, and the perceived imperfections of the world. In a dream-play, one can engage in an imaginary dialogue with eminent figures of the past, such as writers, artists, or poets. Lastly, a constructive daydream is associated with an image of the desired future: eg daydreaming about people never falling ill or dying might inspire a young person to pursue a career in science or medicine.

To empirically investigate the functions of constructive daydreams, a team of Russian researchers, including scientists at HSE University, developed a ‘Constructive Daydreaming Questionnaire’—a tool adapted specifically for the Russian cultural context. This questionnaire enables the assessment of the overall extent of constructive daydreaming and its characteristics, including the presence of daydreams, one’s absorption in daydreams, benefits of daydreaming, and the belief in a dream’s attainability.

The study was conducted in the form of an anonymous online survey administered to users of social networks and psychological websites. In total, more than 600 individuals took part in the survey. Respondents were asked to rate on a scale from 1 to 5 the extent to which various statements pertaining to daydreams and daydreaming were true for them. For example: 'Daydreaming is an empty and futile activity,' 'I do not need to daydream; there are lots of interesting things in the world,' 'If you have faith in your dream, it will surely come true,' and others. Participants were also asked how frequently they daydreamed (numerous times a day, once a week, once a month, etc.) and whether their daydreams were related to the past, present or future.

The survey results confirmed the hypothesis regarding the significant role of constructive daydreaming in regulating mental activity. Constructive daydreaming is associated with greater autonomy, belief in one’s capabilities, the experience of meaningfulness of one’s life and authenticity of one's choices.

Furthermore, constructive daydreaming is correlated with a balanced temporal perspective and effective time management. An individual who engages in constructive daydreaming can integrate essential elements of past experiences, present events, and desired future outcomes, thus avoiding fixation on any specific time interval. The study also indicates that individuals inclined towards fatalism and fixated on negative past experiences exhibit, on one hand, a scarcity of dreams about the future and scepticism regarding the attainability and usefulness of daydreaming, and on the other hand, a tendency to retreat into fantasy.

Another significant finding is the presence of eudaimonic motives in constructive daydreaming, ie motives associated with personal growth and development, resilience, and the pursuit of meaning. In psychology, eudaimonic motivation is contrasted with hedonistic motivation, which is focused on satisfying immediate needs and seeking pleasure. Eudaemonia, unlike hedonia, is associated with objectives which involve tension and effort.

We consider these results particularly significant as they challenge the notion of daydreaming solely as a mechanism for alleviating tension and bringing emotional release. Instead, our findings suggest that daydreaming, particularly constructive daydreaming, actually heightens tension by presenting individuals with new complex tasks and challenges.

Polina Egorova
Co-author of the study, Research Assistant, International Laboratory of Positive Psychology of Personality and Motivation

Constructive daydreaming is future-oriented, it gives hope and fills life with meaning. These findings reflect the understanding of daydreams in the Russian cultural context.

The concept of dreams and dreaming manifests itself in different ways across cultures. In English, the word 'dream' relates to both daydreaming and sleeping dreams, whereas in Slavic languages, the etymology of the word traces back to verbs such as 'shimmer' or 'sparkle.' Thus, in the Russian linguistic context, a daydream is perceived as something vague, undefined, seemingly impossible yet desirable and future oriented. Therefore, when developing the methodology in Russian, we incorporated statements in the questionnaire that capture the nuances of how dreams and daydreaming are understood within the Russian language environment, including the ideas concerning the benefits of daydreaming and the belief in its positive influence on a person's destiny.

Polina Egorova
Co-author of the study, Research Assistant, International Laboratory of Positive Psychology of Personality and Motivation

The authors also suggest that constructive daydreaming may serve as a criterion for personal maturity, a hypothesis that will need to be validated through further research.
IQ

May 20