Daydream and life choices: an experimental study

Abstract

In this study we examined the role of daydreams and daydreaming in decision-making process. The paper describes ourresults on the influence of daydreams and daydreaming on the emotional attitude towards life choices as well as on thesearchof a solutionduring decision making. The study involved 199 peopleaged 18 to 64(164 femalesand 35 males). The study participantswere asked to describe arecent situation of choice and evaluate it by a number of parameters. Subsequently,the participants were divided in twogroups: the first onewas asked to daydreamwhereasthe secondone–to recall the content of the day. Eventually the partici-pants evaluated their experience and degree of involvement during the trial. In addition, they evaluated the situation of choice again. The "Subjective quality of choice” questionnaire by LeontievD.A.and a few spe-cially designed questionnaires were used to examinethe influenceof daydreaming on decision-making pro-cess.Daydreaming was found to reduce the emotional attitude towards the situation of choice and the experi-ence of the significance of choice.The influence of daydreams on finding a solution in decision making process was not detected. Our results allowed for an assumption regarding the mechanisms of daydreams and day-dreaming effect on decision making. Particularly, daydreaming is thought to actualize and clarify personal motives and meanings important to a person. This, in turn, allows one to place the situation in a wider context.