Abstract

The purpose of this research is to examine the relationship between the fantasy orientation of media consumption during childhood and creativity in adulthood. Creativity is a valuable skill to nurture in children because of how it influences creative problem-solving and supports well-being throughout their lives. Previous research has shown that fantasy play can be beneficial to the development of creativity, and as media-based activities become increasingly prevalent in modern play, it is important to investigate whether this has similar benefits to typical pretend play. It was hypothesized that higher fantasy orientation of media during childhood would predict higher levels of creativity in adulthood. About 150 participants were recruited for this study, where they were given a survey to assess fantasy orientation of preferred media during childhood and current creativity. The fantasy orientation of media consumption in childhood was not found to be correlated with creativity in adulthood, nor was it found to predict creativity. These findings suggest that the impact of fantastical media on the development of creativity does not have long-lasting effects, which can impede children’s development of play skills.

Semester/Year of Award

Spring 2025

Mentor

Olivia A. Williams

Mentor Department Affiliation

Psychology

Access Options

Open Access Thesis

Degree Name

Honors Scholars

Degree Level

Bachelors

Department

Psychology

IRB Approval Number (if applicable)

6260

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