Psych revision - Week 3 Mental imagery

Question 1

What is the definition of imagery?

Answer 1

An experience that mimics a real experience

We can be aware of all 5 senses without experiencing the real thing

Question 2

What is mental practice?

Answer 2

The cognitive rehearsal of a task prior to performance

Question 3

What is the term for when similar neural pathways are activated while mimicking a real experience, as to the real thing?

Answer 3

Shared neural activity patterning, similar to the motor pathways, is called FUNCTIONAL EQUIVALENCE

Question 4

What is external vs. internal visual imagery?

Answer 4

Internal is 1st person perspective

External is 3rd person perspective

Question 5

What is kinesthetic imagery?

Answer 5

Kinesthetic imagery is imagery that incorporates feelings and sensations associated with the image

Ex. feel of equipment or joint proprioception

Question 6

What are the components of Pavio’s framework of different types of imagery?

Answer 6

Cognitive specific - imagery that is used to improve skills

Cognitive general - imagery that is used to improve strategies, plans or routines

Motivational specific - imagery that is used to motivate an athlete to achieve specific goals i.e process or outcome goals

Motivational general (two categories)
- Motivation General - Arousal to regulate arousal and anxiety
- Motivation General - Mastery to modify cognitions such as: confidence, focus, staying positive and mental toughness

Question 7

What is imagery ability?

Answer 7

Imagery ability is how capable someone is of forming vivid, controllable images and retaining them for sufficient time to effect a desired rehearsal

Imagery ability is party fixed, but a partly modifiable skill that can influence imagery’s effectiveness

Question 8

What are three ways imagery ability can be improved?

Answer 8

1. Behavioral matching - PETTLEP

• matching the characteristics and behaviors of imagery experience with that of the actual behavior itself.
• stimulating all aspects of a participants’ execution situation i.e sensations

2. Training exercises
   Ex. Layered stimulus response training
3. Observation and Demonstration
   Ex. video clips or demonstrations

Question 9

What is the most important component of PETTLEP imagery?

Answer 9

The Physical component

Making the athlete actively involved in the imagery experience with sports equipment or going through the physical motions of the act etc. is the most helpful in creating a ‘behaviorally matched’ imagery experience

Question 10

What are some ways that imagery ability can be measured?

Answer 10

Subjective measures
- questionaries

Objective measures

• Behavioral (inspection, transformation ease)
• Chronometric (time)
• Physiological (generation, vividness)

*Objective measures are be expenny and are more indirect methods of measuring imagery ability

Question 11

What are the three main categories of imagery outcomes?

Answer 11

Imagery outcomes:

1. Facilitates the learning and performance of skills and strategies
2. Modifies cognitions
   Ex. confidence, focus, mental toughness, positivity
3. Regulates arousal and competitive anxiety