Mental Imagery, Optimism, and Self-efficacy: The Role of Imagery Perspective and Imagery Modality in Positive Cognition

Claudia A Pop ,Alexandru Tiba

doi:10.24913/rjap.21.2.01

Abstract

This study examined whether using different imagery perspectives and modalities plays a role in the link between vividness of imagining positive events and positive cognition such as optimism, self-efficacy and memory for positive mood. We asked participants to complete self-rating scales of positive cognition and to imagine doing various actions in positive situations from the external and internal perspectives of visual modality and when using kinesthetic modality. We found that vividness of imagining actions in positive situations from an external perspective predicts all positive cognitions: optimism and self-efficacy and memory of positive mood. The vividness of imagining actions in positive situations from the internal perspective of visual modality and kinesthetic imagery predicted only self-efficacy and memory of positive mood but not optimism. We discuss the findings in light of existing theories regarding imagery and positive cognition and suggest several possibilities of using imagery perspective for imagery interventions.

Highlights

Investigation of the possible mechanisms underlying optimism showed that vividness of imagery of positive events is a cognitive marker for optimism (Blackwell et al, 2013; Ji et al, 2017)
Previous research suggests that specific properties of imagery may play a role in the relationship between positive cognitions and imagery (Libby & Eibach, 2011a), to our knowledge, no study has yet investigated this issue for optimism
It is not known whether vividness of imagining positive events is a marker specific for optimism or if it is involved in other types of related positive cognitions

Summary

Introduction

Expecting more positive things in life than negative (i.e., dispositional optimism) and having high confidence of doing things that are important and coping with future stress (i.e., self-efficacy) have both been evidenced as having a key role in mental health, adaptation and coping with strain and illness (Benight & Harper, 2002; Carver & Schreier, 2014; Feng et al, 2015; Folkman et al, 1986; Rasmussen et al, 2009). The ability to imagine future positive events has been proposed to play the role of a cognitive mechanism for optimism in both healthy and clinical samples (Blackwell et al, 2013; Ji et al, 2017; Sharot et al, 2007) it is unknown whether this cognitive marker underlies self-efficacy. It is not known whether vividness of imagining the future functions as a general imagery mechanism or if there are distinct mechanisms linked to different imagery modalities (motor or visual imagery) or to different imagery characteristics (imagery perspective) underlying the differences in imagining positive events in relation with optimism and self-efficacy. Understanding how different characteristics of imagery for positive events relate with optimism and self-efficacy may inform imagery-based interventions (Malouff & Schutte, 2016) and specify conditions in which they may be more or less efficient

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