Sex Differences in Daydreaming and Related Mental Activity from the Late Teens to the Early Nineties

Abstract

Using the Imaginal Processes Inventory, aspects of daydreaming and associated mental activity were examined for sex differences in 1200 well educated middle and upper-middle class whites aged seventeen to ninety-two years. Females reported higher levels of daydreaming and nightdreaming frequency and emotional reactions to daydreaming as well as more daydreams of a problem solving nature. Females also reported lower levels of daydreams of a sexual, bizarre-improbable, heroic and achievement-oriented nature. Most sex differences persisted over the life span with the difference for sexual daydreams increasing with increasing age level. Except for problem-solving daydreams, all daydreaming contents investigated decreased with increases in age. Across the lifespan problem-solving daydreams were the most likely for both sexes except for seventeen to twenty-nine year old males where such daydreams were second most likely; from age seventeen to twenty-nine sexual daydreams were most likely for males. After age forty, achievement oriented daydreams were relatively more important for females than for males. Females across the lifespan also reported more interpersonal curiosity than males while males exhibited more curiosity about things. Unexpectedly, male curiosity about things was equally as strong as their curiosity about people.