A term generally used to refer to the mental
process of imagining objects, symbols, or events not immediately present.
However, it is also used to refer to the symbol or image itself. In general,
fantasy is assumed to be normal, even indicative of psychological stability and
health. It is usually pleasant, often whimsical, and frequently creative. The
pathological aspects that are often cited are restricted to when the fantasy
becomes delusionary or when it dominates a person's mental life and serves as a
retreat from reality rather than an adjunct to it.