Preschoolers' Imaginativeness: Subtypes, Correlates, and Maladaptive Extremes
In a study of forty-three preschool children, ratings of four types of the children's imaginativeness were correlated with observational, behavioral, and interview measures. Research questions were: 1) Do correlates of imaginativeness found in observational studies replicate if trait rather than state measures are examined? 2) Do different types of imaginativeness have different correlates? and 3) What characteristics distinguish children at the maladaptive extremes of imaginativeness from those at more moderate levels? The conceptual and empirical utility of considering imaginativeness to have two dimensions, Expressive and Constructive, was demonstrated. While optimal levels of Constructive Imaginativeness correlated significantly with other indices of healthy child development, the correlations were fewer and tended to be weaker for Expressive Imaginativeness. The negative implication of extremes was documented.