EXPERIENCED REALITY IN THREE TO SIX YEAR‐OLD CHILDREN: A STUDY OF DIRECT REALITY TESTING

Abstract

SUMMARY Seven reality qualities, representing different aspects of experienced reality, are defined. Examples are given of questions which arc useful in evaluation of these qualities connected to everyday experiences, such as sensory perceptions, thoughts of imaginary items, and thoughts of real objects or real abilities in others or in oneself. A study of 48 preschool children indicates that such children understand the questions used, so that an investigational technique using the defined qualities can provide a simple, direct, and reasonably reliable evaluation of reality testing, Some marked differences are found in reality testing between non‐psychotic adults and 3‐yr‐old normal children.