Abstract
This study used the "empty box task" of Harris et al. (1991) to examine influences on young children's judgments about imaginary objects. In two experiments, children were shown two empty boxes and were asked to imagine that a monster was in one of the boxes. The experimenter showed the picture of a monster to the child and asked the child to express whether the monster was real by making verbal judgments and physical actions. Next the spontaneous behavior of each child toward the boxes was observed after he/she was left alone in the room. Finally, children made judgments and reported their feelings about their imagination. In comparing the influence of situational actuality under 3 conditions: story (in which the experimenter told a monster story before presenting the boxes), costume (in which the experimenter put on a witch costume during the experiment) and a control conditions, there were three main findings. First, the effects of situational reality differed according to the condition. Second, recognition of real existence was related to credibility in making verbal judgments. Third, evocation of feeling was related to the spontaneous behavior of children when they were observed alone.
