In recent years, the intricate relationship between early emotional experiences and the phenomenon of maladaptive daydreaming has garnered considerable attention within clinical psychology. A groundbreaking study conducted by Pourmoazzen, Doosalivand, and Kianimoghadam, published in the forthcoming 2025 issue of BMC Psychology, unpacks the profound impact of attachment styles and traumatic events on maladaptive daydreaming within an Iranian population, elucidating the mediating influences of shame and emotion dysregulation. This research not only contributes to the expanding neuropsychological discourse but also provides critical insights into how internal emotional regulation mechanisms are disrupted by early relational dynamics, with far-reaching implications for mental health interventions.
Attachment theory, a cornerstone in developmental psychology, explains how early interactions with caregivers form the blueprint for emotional regulation and interpersonal behaviors throughout life. The study highlights three major attachment styles—secure, anxious, and avoidant—each characterized by distinctive cognitive-affective patterns that modulate how individuals process trauma and handle adverse emotional states. In individuals with insecure attachment, the researchers observed a marked predisposition toward maladaptive daydreaming, a complex coping mechanism involving immersive, often compulsive, imaginary escapism that can interfere with functioning.
Unlike normative daydreaming, maladaptive daydreaming is typified by its vividness, compulsive nature, and the significant distress and impairment it can induce. This pathological form of mental dissociation frequently acts as a psychological refuge for those with unresolved trauma, but it paradoxically exacerbates emotional instability. By meticulously analyzing self-reported data across a diverse Iranian cohort, the research team demonstrated that maladaptive daydreaming is significantly predicted by an individual’s attachment history, specifically when compounded by traumatic experiences during formative years.
Trauma, as identified in this study, ranges widely from physical and emotional abuse to neglect and abandonment, each leaving distinct imprints upon emotional regulation circuits. Neurobiological frameworks suggest that chronic trauma disrupts the balance within the limbic system and prefrontal cortex, fundamental in emotion processing and executive control. The mediating variables unveiled—shame and emotion dysregulation—serve as critical psychological constructs linking the raw experience of trauma with the manifestation of maladaptive daydreaming.
Shame, a self-conscious emotion linked intimately with perceived social inadequacy and failure to meet one’s own standards, operates as an internalized psychological punishment. The study elucidates how shame can intensify emotional dysregulation, creating a feedback loop that fuels compulsive daydreaming episodes. Emotion dysregulation, defined as the inability to modulate emotional responses adaptively, was particularly elevated in participants displaying insecure attachment patterns and traumatic histories, reinforcing maladaptive daydreaming as a maladaptive emotion regulation strategy.
This investigation employed robust psychometric instruments tailored to capture the nuanced dimensions of attachment behavior, trauma exposure, shame proneness, and emotion regulation difficulties, alongside maladaptive daydreaming tendencies. Statistical modeling through mediation analyses substantiated the hypothetical framework where shame and emotion dysregulation act as key transmitters of the influence exerted by early attachment disruptions and trauma on maladaptive daydreaming outcomes.
Beyond the clinical symptoms and behavioral outcomes, this study intricately delves into the underlying neurocognitive processes. It postulates that individuals with insecure attachment and trauma histories may exhibit hyperactivation of the default mode network (DMN), a neural circuit implicated in self-referential thought and imagination. Dysregulated DMN activity can potentiate maladaptive daydreaming by amplifying ruminative and escapist mental simulations, closely tied to emotional distress and avoidance of real-world problems.
The cultural context within which this study was conducted—the Iranian society—adds a unique dimension to the results. The sociocultural framework influences expressions of shame and emotional coping, potentially amplifying internalized stigma associated with trauma and emotional struggles. Understanding these cultural nuances is vital for designing culturally sensitive therapeutic interventions that effectively address maladaptive daydreaming within non-Western populations.
Highlighting the clinical relevance of these findings, the authors emphasize the importance of early screening for attachment and trauma-related vulnerabilities in mental health settings. Prioritizing emotional awareness and regulation skill-building can disrupt the maladaptive pathways fostered by shame, thereby reducing reliance on daydreaming as an avoidant coping strategy. Cognitive-behavioral therapies integrating trauma-informed approaches and emotion regulation training appear particularly promising in this regard.
Moreover, the study’s insights pave the way for future investigations into the neurobiological substrates of maladaptive daydreaming, encouraging integration of neuroimaging and longitudinal designs to track the evolution of these cognitive-emotional profiles over time. Identifying biomarkers linked to shame and emotion dysregulation could revolutionize diagnostic and treatment modalities, tailoring interventions to individual neuropsychological profiles for optimized efficacy.
Importantly, while maladaptive daydreaming has traditionally been marginalized within psychiatric nosology, this study asserts the necessity of recognizing it as a distinct clinical phenomenon with identifiable psychological mechanisms. Such recognition could foster the development of standardized diagnostic criteria and specialized therapeutic techniques, ultimately improving outcomes for affected individuals.
This research also calls attention to the pervasive yet underrecognized role that shame plays in various psychopathologies beyond maladaptive daydreaming. As a mediator in trauma-related emotional disturbances, shame represents a critical therapeutic target. Interventions aimed at fostering self-compassion and reducing internalized stigma may hold transformative potential for individuals struggling with the sequelae of early trauma and attachment dysfunction.
The methodological rigor of the study, including a large sample size drawn from diverse demographics within Iran, enhances the generalizability and validity of its conclusions. By employing validated scales and sophisticated statistical analyses, the research offers a robust framework upon which subsequent empirical endeavors can be constructed.
In synthesizing developmental psychology, affective neuroscience, and clinical psychopathology, this seminal work foregrounds a multilayered explanation for maladaptive daydreaming that transcends simplistic etiologies. It underscores the interplay between enduring early relational patterns and complex emotion-processing deficits in shaping individual vulnerability.
Given the global prevalence of trauma and the universal significance of attachment dynamics, these findings resonate beyond the Iranian context, urging mental health professionals worldwide to reevaluate the undercurrents of shame and emotion dysregulation in patients presenting with compulsive fantasizing and associated distress.
As maladaptive daydreaming receives increasing recognition within the psychiatric community, research such as that by Pourmoazzen et al. will be instrumental in elucidating its multifaceted origins and refining therapeutic approaches. This helps bridge the gap between neurobiological insights and psychosocial factors, enhancing holistic patient care.
Ultimately, this study enriches the scientific narrative on how foundational emotional bonds and early-life adversity sculpt the inner mental landscape and influence complex behaviors such as maladaptive daydreaming. It fosters a deeper appreciation for the subtle psychological mechanisms that can both protect and imperil mental well-being.
Readers seeking to understand the enigmatic phenomenon of maladaptive daydreaming will find in this research a compelling synthesis backed by rigorous empirical data, underscoring the significance of attachment, trauma, shame, and emotion regulation in shaping human cognition and behavior.
Subject of Research: Impact of attachment styles and traumatic experiences on maladaptive daydreaming among the Iranian population, focusing on shame and emotion dysregulation as mediators.
Article Title: The impact of attachment styles and traumatic experiences on maladaptive daydreaming among Iranian population: the mediating role of shame and emotion dysregulation.
Article References:
Pourmoazzen, M., Doosalivand, H. & Kianimoghadam, A.S. “The impact of attachment styles and traumatic experiences on maladaptive daydreaming among Iranian population: the mediating role of shame and emotion dysregulation.” BMC Psychol 13, 1085 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-03453-x
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