magical thinking

thinking /think·ing/ (thingk´ing) ideational mental activity (as opposed to emotional activity).

---

autistic thinking  preoccupation with inner thoughts, daydreams, fantasies, private logic; egocentric, subjective thinking lacking objectivity and connection with external reality.

dereistic thinking  thinking not in accordance with the facts of reality and experience and following illogical, idiosyncratic reasoning.

magical thinking  that characterized by the belief that thinking or wishing something can cause it to occur.

---

magical thinking

[maj′ikəl]

(in psychology) a belief that merely thinking about an event in the external world can cause it to occur. It is regarded as a form of regression to an early phase of development. It may be part of ideas of reference, considered normal in those instances, or may reach delusional proportions when the individual maintains a firm conviction about the belief, despite evidence to the contrary. It may be seen in schizophrenia.

---

magical thinking

Psychology Dereitic thinking, similar to a normal stage of childhood development, in which thoughts, words or actions assume a magical power, and are able to prevent or cause events to happen without a physical action occurring; a conviction that thinking equates with doing, accompanied by an unrealistic understanding of cause and effect Examples Dreams in children, in primitive peoples, and in Pts under various conditions