22: Daydreaming

Evasion of reality is an ego defense that involves creating an imaginary image of a person or situation in which certain aspects are changed in a way that makes them more amenable to the subject.

The author contrasts this to intellectualization, which evades some facts by focusing on others. The daydreamer is unconcerned with facts, and departs from reality in a way he knows to be unreal.

Daydreaming is also contrasted to delusion, in that the delusionary individual does not distinguish between his fantasy and reality, believes that the dream is real, and may not even consciously control his visions.

Imagining or envisioning are differentiated from daydreaming as well, as the intent of the visionary is to project a desirable future as a means of seeking a method of achieving it. The daydreamer has no functional purpose - he enjoys a fictionalization he has no hope of achieving.

(EN: The author describes this behavior, but it is not clear to me how it can become dysfunctional or self-deceptive. Since the daydreamer realizes it is a fiction, he cannot be said to believe in it. I imagine that if a person continues to escape into fantasy rather than dealing with problems he is capable of correcting, the escapism is discouraging functional behavior - but seems to be wasteful rather than harmful, and also seems no more harmful than any pass-time activity.)