Debilitamiento de las funciones parentales y la creación de amigos imaginarios en niños de 3 a 7 años.

Abstract

The creation of imaginary friends is a phenomenon inherent to childhood, where children imagine fictional characters to talk and play with. This resource emerges from imagination and fantasy, allowing satisfaction and creativity in their development. Studies indicate that these imaginary friends appear between the ages of 3 and 7, often in the absence of parents, as a way to compensate for emotional deficiencies. Imaginary friends can take various forms, from objects to characters, and serve functions such as companionship and creative expression. This study focuses on examining how the weakening of parental functions impacts the creation of imaginary friends in children aged 3 to 7. Using a descriptive approach, it aims to establish a useful resource for clinical practice. This study concluded that the weakening of parental functions affects the child's subjectivity by generating a lack of boundaries and structure. This deficiency can manifest in extreme forms of overprotection or permissiveness, creating boundary-less children prone to frustration. In response to this distress, children may create imaginary friends as a way to cope with the lack of emotional support and companionship. These imaginary friends become symptoms with a purpose and significance in the child's life.