Podcast
Questions and Answers
What does mental simulation offer in trying out solutions to problems?
What does mental simulation offer in trying out solutions to problems?
- Flexibility in unique circumstances (correct)
- Rapid decision-making abilities
- Limited options for problem-solving
- Guaranteed success in problem-solving
What is the impact of mental simulations on emotional states?
What is the impact of mental simulations on emotional states?
- Have no effect on emotional states
- Minimize emotional responses
- Stabilize emotional states
- Evoke strong emotional states (correct)
What does mental practice using mental imagery improve in elite athletes?
What does mental practice using mental imagery improve in elite athletes?
- Performance (correct)
- Mental health
- Endurance
- Physical strength
What combination maximally hones skills according to research?
What combination maximally hones skills according to research?
What is crucial in cognitive-behavior therapy for maintaining behavior change?
What is crucial in cognitive-behavior therapy for maintaining behavior change?
What do effective mental simulations emphasize for reaching a goal?
What do effective mental simulations emphasize for reaching a goal?
What does mental simulation enable people to do?
What does mental simulation enable people to do?
What are the fundamental tasks in moving oneself from a current situation toward an envisioned future one?
What are the fundamental tasks in moving oneself from a current situation toward an envisioned future one?
What produced progress in achieving goals or resolving stressful events in the described research?
What produced progress in achieving goals or resolving stressful events in the described research?
What is the focus of the discussion in the article?
What is the focus of the discussion in the article?
What has been explored in virtually every area of psychology?
What has been explored in virtually every area of psychology?
What is one of the most intriguing skills that humans possess?
What is one of the most intriguing skills that humans possess?
What makes mental simulations seem true according to Kahneman and Miller (1986)?
What makes mental simulations seem true according to Kahneman and Miller (1986)?
Who used mental simulation to recognize the needs of working mothers and make timely investments?
Who used mental simulation to recognize the needs of working mothers and make timely investments?
How did a Tactical Action Officer avert a major diplomatic catastrophe in the Middle East during the Iran-Iraq war?
How did a Tactical Action Officer avert a major diplomatic catastrophe in the Middle East during the Iran-Iraq war?
What did at least nine empirical investigations show about people and mental simulation?
What did at least nine empirical investigations show about people and mental simulation?
What role do experts, such as investment advisers and elite fire-fighting unit commanders, use mental simulation for?
What role do experts, such as investment advisers and elite fire-fighting unit commanders, use mental simulation for?
Why were homeowners who mentally simulated owning cable more likely to want to subscribe than those who read about its advantages?
Why were homeowners who mentally simulated owning cable more likely to want to subscribe than those who read about its advantages?
What is the role of mental simulation in tasks such as going on a trip or writing a paper?
What is the role of mental simulation in tasks such as going on a trip or writing a paper?
How do social psychologists suggest counterfactual reasoning influences emotional states and future behavior?
How do social psychologists suggest counterfactual reasoning influences emotional states and future behavior?
How do clinicians assist clients in managing potentially problematic future situations?
How do clinicians assist clients in managing potentially problematic future situations?
What do stress and coping researchers highlight as important in overcoming stressful circumstances?
What do stress and coping researchers highlight as important in overcoming stressful circumstances?
What have personality psychologists studied regarding people's visions of themselves in the future?
What have personality psychologists studied regarding people's visions of themselves in the future?
What have social cognition researchers noted as fundamental to moving towards an envisioned future?
What have social cognition researchers noted as fundamental to moving towards an envisioned future?
What are the two contrasting forms of mental simulation for achieving personal goals discussed in the text?
What are the two contrasting forms of mental simulation for achieving personal goals discussed in the text?
Who are some of the self-help writers mentioned in the text who have promoted outcome simulation for goal achievement?
Who are some of the self-help writers mentioned in the text who have promoted outcome simulation for goal achievement?
What is the main focus of the authors' research program, as mentioned in the text?
What is the main focus of the authors' research program, as mentioned in the text?
What were the two conditions into which the participants of the study were divided, as mentioned in the text?
What were the two conditions into which the participants of the study were divided, as mentioned in the text?
What were the participants instructed to visualize in the process-simulation condition?
What were the participants instructed to visualize in the process-simulation condition?
What were the outcome-simulation participants instructed to imagine?
What were the outcome-simulation participants instructed to imagine?
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Study Notes
Mental Simulation and Goal Achievement
- Two contrasting forms of mental simulation for achieving personal goals are discussed: process simulation and outcome simulation.
- Outcome simulation, advocated by self-help literature, involves focusing on the outcome to be achieved to bring it about.
- Self-help writers such as Dyer, Fanning, Lakein, and Peale have promoted outcome simulation for goal achievement.
- The self-help literature lacks a formal process model for how a focus on a desired outcome would enable a person to achieve it.
- The authors' research program focuses on examining different types of mental simulations and their effects on behavioral self-regulation and goal achievement.
- They maintain that process simulation effectively addresses the two main tasks of self-regulation: enlisting problem-solving activities and regulating emotional states.
- A study was conducted with introductory psychology students at the University of California, Los Angeles, who were preparing for their first midterm examination.
- Participants were divided into process-simulation and outcome-simulation conditions, with a control group monitoring their studying.
- Process-simulation participants visualized themselves studying for the exam in a way that would lead them to obtain a grade of A.
- Outcome-simulation participants were instructed to imagine themselves having already received a grade of A on the exam.
- All participants completed questionnaires measuring anxiety, worry, confidence, motivation to study, expected grade, and the grade they were striving for.
- The night before the exam, participants were recontacted by phone and asked the same questions, as well as to report the number of hours they had studied and other study-related details.
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