Physical Activity and Visual Imagery
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Much attention was given to mental imagery in athletics (particularly tennis) in the 1960s and 1970s under the heading of visualization as a way to improve personal performance. The idea was to practice specific physical actions and to visualize them being successfully completed without actually doing them.
Use the following information to ensure successful completion of the assignment:
Prepare this assignment according to the APA guidelines found in the APA Style . An abstract is not required.
Write a position response in which you discuss whether this practice of visualizing successful completion of physical activities is "pop psychology" and mysticism or whether the practice has research-supported underpinnings.
Using current research, makes recommendations for improving the technique, or argue that it now is obsolete.
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Solution Summary
This solution describes the concept of visual Imagery, and investigates whether it enhances sport performances.
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Hi Student,
Provide a thesis for your paper [Suggestion]:
"Visual imagery is a common technique used for sport performance enhancement; is visual imagery visual technique, or an enhanced mental representation?
*Introduce your paper by explaining the concept of Visual Imagery.
Visual imagery refers to the use of images that represent visual characteristics such as color and shape (Sternberg, 2006). According to Sternberg, the debate on mental representations has focused on the functional anatomy of visual imagery, and the argument is that visual imagery is associated with mental images. This paper examines the technique associated with visual imagery, and discusses whether it works, how it works, and offers recommendation for improving the technique. Studies are presented to suggest that mental representations may take one of three forms; (a) propositions, (b) mental models, or (c) images (Johnson-Laird, 1983 as cited in Sternberg, 2006). The use of visualization involves the practice of creating a mental picture of athletic skills in which the athlete has received training (www.clusports.com. The purpose of the visualization technique is to improve the performance of the athlete, or team by visualizing a better or completed game with better results. The objective is to "block out distractions" that may have influenced the athlete's poor performance. Thus, it is suggested that a successful athlete using visualization can "see" the play before it occurs; and be in the right position to make the right play. The question is does visualization work as a technique to enhance sports performance?
Research is presented to suggest that visualization in tennis indicates having the ability to "block out distractions". Yet, while practicing visualization ...
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