Jungian Personality Preference Profiles as Predictors of Maladaptive Daydreaming in Adults

Maladaptive daydreaming is characterized by excessive, immersive fantasy activity that interferes with daily functioning and psychological well-being. While prior research has linked maladaptive daydreaming to absorption, dissociation, and emotional regulation difficulties, limited attention has been given to underlying personality preference patterns that may predispose individuals to this phenomenon. Drawing on Jungian personality theory, the present study examined whether dimensional personality preferences predict maladaptive daydreaming tendencies in adults. A non-clinical sample of 160 adults completed the Trait Profiler Jungian Preference Scale (TP-JPS) , assessing four bipolar personality dimensions—Introversion–Extraversion, Sensing–Intuition, Thinking–Feeling, and Judging–Perceiving—and the Deenz Maladaptive Daydreaming Scale (DMDS-26) , measuring immersive imagination, emotional involvement, distraction, and time distortion. Pearson correlation analyses and hierarchical multiple regression were conducted to evaluate associations and predictive relationships between personality preferences and maladaptive daydreaming. Results indicated that internal-oriented and abstract cognitive preferences were meaningfully associated with higher maladaptive daydreaming scores. After controlling for demographic variables, Jungian personality dimensions accounted for a significant proportion of variance in maladaptive daydreaming. Preference profile analyses further suggested that certain combinations of personality orientations were associated with elevated fantasy immersion and attentional disengagement. These findings support a dimensional, personality-based understanding of maladaptive daydreaming and extend Jungian theory into contemporary research on immersive cognitive phenomena. The study highlights the value of personality preference frameworks for conceptualizing individual differences in maladaptive imaginative engagement.