Clash Royale CLAN TAG #URR8PPP For other uses, see Imaginary Friend (disambiguation). Caliban has a conversation with his imaginary friends in Folger Theatre's production of Shakespeare's The Tempest . Imaginary friends (also known as pretend friends or invisible friends ) are a psychological and social phenomenon where a friendship or other interpersonal relationship takes place in the imagination rather than external physical reality. Although they may seem very real to their creators, children usually understand that their imaginary friends are not real. [1] The first studies focusing on imaginary friends are believed to have been conducted during the 1890s. [2] There is little information about the development and the appearance of imaginary friends in children. However, Klausen and Passman (2007) report that imaginary companions were originally described as being supernatural creatures and spirits that were thought to connect people with their past lives. [3] Adults ...