Module 6: Fantasy
Objectives
This module aims to help you to:
- Raise awareness of your current sexual and non-sexual fantasies
- Recognise and reflect on the link between your fantasies and your online behaviour
What is a fantasy?
Do you ever think about winning the lottery? How would you spend the money? Where would you go?
This is one example of a fantasy. A fantasy is something that is imagined.
Why do people have fantasies?
Fantasies can be about a variety of different things and everybody will have their own reasons for engaging in a fantasy…
- For some, a fantasy will give them confidence, increased self-assurance and a sense of control over a situation by letting them rehearse how they will deal with a situation.
- For others, it may be a form of stress release (escapism) or a way to experience things that they wouldn’t in everyday life (that lottery win).
- Negative fantasies can be a way people try to cope and prepare themselves for something they fear will happen, or a way of punishing themselves.
- Some people use sexual fantasies as a form of sexual outlet; often if they are not meeting their sexual needs within a relationship.
A fantasy can have…..
- Positive outcomes: for example imagining achieving an award or winning a competition.
- Negative outcomes: for example if a partner does not return home on time, imaging that they have been in a car accident.
Some fantasies are…..
- Planned, rehearsed and used repeatedly by a person e.g. scoring a world cup goal.
- Triggered by an emotional response or an external stimulus e.g. replaying bad day at work.
- Sometimes a person’s thoughts stray and it takes them a short time to realise they are fantasising and not doing what they are supposed to be doing.
