play acting, n.All

Play-acting (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠the healthy body's power to slip out of the real situation, as when a normal person salutes to order and finds it amusing to pretend to be a soldier.

Play-acting (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠placing oneself for a moment in an imaginary situation and enjoying the change of setting; the patient who cannot do it cannot tell a riddle from a problem.