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The term imaginary friend ordinarily refers to such characters created by children, but the same phenomenon is observable in adults. The inventor will act as if the imaginary being is physically present by talking to it, playing with it, or even attempting to feed it. If told that the friend is non-existent, the inventor will often retaliate in a defensive manner by stating that the imaginary friend is invisible, or in some cases questioning the vision of the person.

The development of imaginary friends by a person does not alone necessarily signify a problem or disorder.^[1][2] According to the DSM-IV, imaginary friends are classified as a psychological disorder only if they interfere with everyday social interactions^{[citation needed]}. It could possibly be a solution to feeling lonely.

According to some theories of psychology^{[citation needed]}, an understanding of a child's conversations with their imaginary friends can reveal a lot about the anxieties and fears of that child as well as the child's aspirations and perception of the world. Some children report that their "imaginary friends" manifest themselves physically, and are indistinguishable from "real" people.

People may invent imaginary friends for companionship, as part of play, or for other reasons. Imaginary friends can serve as an important source of companionship to some children and adults. As an example, clinical psychologists have reported that^{[citation needed]} young children in boarding schools often develop imaginary friends to cope with extreme stress and separation from their family.

According to some psychological theories^{[citation needed]}, children often use their imaginary friends as outlets for expressing desires which they would normally be afraid to engage in or for which they would normally be punished. Proponents of these theories state^[3] that it is not uncommon for a child to engage in mischief or wrong-doing and then to blame the crime on their imaginary friend, allowing the child to act out fantasies that they are otherwise restricted from experiencing due to societal constraints. Similarly, psychologists report^{[citation needed]} that children often give their imaginary friends personality traits that they themselves lack and make their imaginary friends into ideal versions of themselves: shy children often describe their imaginary friends as playful and outgoing jokesters who are always making them laugh and who are very popular.

A long-time popular misconception holds that most children dismiss or forget the imaginary friend once they begin school and acquire 'real' friends. Some psychologists have suggested that children simply retain but stop speaking about imaginary friends, due to adult expectations and peer pressure. Some children report creating or maintaining imaginary friends as preteens or teenagers^{[citation needed]}, and a very few adults report having imaginary friends. [1] [2] [3]

• Tony, Danny's imaginary friend (Stanley Kubrick's The Shining)
• Fight Club
• Nanhe Jaisalmer
• Safea Ah, imaginary friend of SAH, also used by SAH as a psuedonym
• Aloysius Snuffleupagus
• Tyler Durden
• Nadine, D. W.'s imaginary friend from Arthur
• Calvin and Hobbes
• Drop Dead Fred
• Don't Look Under The Bed
• "Dave", an episode of Lost
• Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends (imaginary friends actually take on a real form and all can see them)
• Hide and Seek
• "Tuttle", an episode of M*A*S*H
• James of Late
• Captain Howdy, the white-faced demon from the film The Exorcist thought originally to be an imaginary friend.
• Plank, from Ed, Edd, n' Eddy
• Frank the bunny from Donnie Darko
• Wilson the Volleyball from the movie Cast Away
• Debbie Miller, imaginary friend of Meg Griffin
• Mr. USOS (Pan USOS)
• Mr. Hat and Mr. Twig from South Park
• In one episode from season three of Impian Illyana, Illyana pretend to have an imaginary friend to test his boyfriend, Izham.
• Harvey, from the theatrical play and film of that name. Harvey turns out to be a real, but mythic creature, a pooka.
• Jack Flack, the secret agent from the 1984 film Cloak & Dagger
• Gummy, bubble buddy, and mini squid from Sponge Bob Squarepants.
• Bugus, from Bogus (film)
• Ninja Ninja, from the animation Afro Samurai.
• Rachel Cohen, Lisa Simpson's Jewish imaginary friend from The Simpsons.

1. ^ Imaginary friends open up fantastic world - ABC Science
2. ^ Imaginary Friendships Could Boost Child Development - Science Daily
3. ^ Imaginary friends: Should you be concerned?

• A British account of an imaginary friend