Final answer:
Watson and Fischer believed that fantasy play develops through children imitating adult behaviors and being influenced by cultural norms, which aligns with social learning theories that emphasize the importance of social and environmental factors in cognitive and social development.
Step-by-step explanation:
Watson and Fischer proposed that fantasy play develops based on imitation of adults and cultural influences. This concept is rooted in the work of social theorists like Mead, who suggested that children's play stages involve adopting and acting out roles they observe in the adults around them.
Additionally, societal norms and interactions play a significant role in the development of cognitive abilities like cognitive decoupling, which is the capacity to envision and predict actions of others, even if they are not physically present. References to works by Stanislavski and Bandura further contribute to understanding factors like personal capabilities and self-efficacy in the realm of observational learning and the development of self within the social context.
Fantasy play develops as children imitate the behaviors and roles of adults they see in their lives and are influenced by the wider cultural norms and values that they are exposed to during their development.