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February 12, 1952. AN IMAGINARY COMPANION. Otto Sperling, M.D.
A three-year-old boy was brought for treatment because of his parents' concern about an imaginary companion he had acquired at thirty-three months of age. Imaginary companions are observed in about twenty percent of children as a phase in normal development between three and six years of age. These companions may be animals, children, or adults, and may represent scapegoats, playmates, or protectors. A special type of imaginary companion frequently