Introduction
Numerous complex connections between the emotional and intellectual levels of consciousness exist. Frequently, people are sure that emotions arise from external circumstances and affect mental imagery. However, recent studies have confirmed that mental imagery and beliefs strongly influence emotions and motivation for behavior (Kawahara, 2021). According to Kosslyn et al. (2001), mental imagery, or image-based thoughts, allows an individual to “see with the mind’s eye” (as cited in Taruffi & Kussner, 2019, p. 3). Consequently, vivid mental imagery has the capacity to affect an individual’s decision-making as it assists them with processing the information (Kim et al., 2020). At the same time, one does not need to transform anything in external circumstances or the biochemistry of the body; they only need to change their mental imagery to evoke different emotions.
Mental Imagery
The emergence of a connection between mental imagery and emotion is due to the physiological aspects of the brain. The process of mental imagery creation begins with an arbitrary, conscious consideration of the situation. Firstly, an individual reflects on the context of the situation. Subsequently, they determine its consequences for themselves and other individuals. These cognitive assessments are represented in the sensory cortex (the sense of smell, hearing, and vision). Then, the brain compares these representations with other situations of a similar type that were in the human experience (Taruffi & Kussner, 2019). As a result, the search for paired components and imagery automatically begins in memory, and the process is cognitive in its essence. Although thought processes are lightning-fast and involuntary, they all occur in the cortex and frontal areas of the brain (Gavilan & Avello, 2020). The biochemistry of complex emotions activates once thought processes are finished. These conclusions in the prefrontal areas of the brain automatically send signals to the emotional areas. Only then does a person experience a particular emotion, which makes mental imagery the main component of emotions.
Relevant Theories and Concepts
One of the relevant theories in cognitive psychology is the theory of information as affect. It assumes that mental imagery can serve as a source of affect in a broad sense, whether it is a mood, emotion, or feeling (Wicken et al., 2021). In particular, mental imagery is commonly identified as a key driver of negative emotions in models of mental illnesses (Wicken et al., 2021). Moreover, mental imagery influences cognitive function in addition to emotional function. For example, an individual’s attention becomes selective to certain classes of sensations in an attempt to find the most plausible explanations for the emerging mental imagery. Thus, one can make sure that mental imagery is able to change a particular mood at the current time of judgment (Lai et al., 2020). This effect occurs due to the fact that these reasons relate to the sphere of direct influence or individual experience.
A relevant concept in cognitive psychology is the psychological tendencies observed in patients with depression. The provisions of the information as affect theory provide an explanation for the emotions that arise in depression (Zheng et al., 2021). Firstly, people directly assess the probability of an event in the future; as a result, they develop certain mental imagery. Secondly, people create projections about how these events will manifest themselves in subjective experience and what emotions or experiences will accompany them (Renner et al., 2019). These projections are designated as affective prognosis, which appeared as a result of mental imagery.
Among people who do not suffer from depression, there is a tendency to overestimate the emotional assessment of mental imagery. For example, positive and negative events in mental imagery have a pronounced positive and negative color, respectively (Kim et al., 2021). People with depression are characterized by a number of cognitive distortions that orient them to negative aspects of information, including expectations. This mental imagery is usually vivid and uncontrollable, which causes significant levels of distress (Steil et al., 2022). Due to the distortion of mental imagery, patients with depression face difficulties understanding their emotions; as a result, a negative affect emerges.
Relevant Research Studies
Relevant studies in cognitive psychology provide experimental confirmation of the theory of information as affect. Carefully controlled conditions for observing the described effect were created in the experiment with the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) (Kawahara, 2021). The first group of participants was asked to describe a positive future situation on a worksheet, whereas the second group was asked to imagine their future. In the end, Kawahara (2021) found that emotional change in the imagery group was considerably higher than in the language description group. In this regard, it is possible to claim that mental imagery prompts emotional change to a greater extent than verbal descriptions.
The second study by Commodari and Sole (2019) experimentally confirmed the influence of mental imagery on the emotional state of patients with depression. As part of the study, with the involvement of respondents with and without depression, participants assessed the probability of positive or negative future events (Commodari & Sole, 2019). Then the participants were asked to imagine that an event would happen to them in a month and indicate what their emotional state would be.
The study found that participants with depression predicted more negative events in the future. In comparison with the control group, they gave a lower assessment of their potential mood even in a situation if something positive had happened to them. Negative emotions about the future in people with depression are a consequence of the fact that they rely more on pessimistic mental imagery, such as potential disasters (Steil et al., 2022). The described mechanism explains why people with depression can choose a strategy of avoiding or acknowledging their defeat, even in situations involving a positive context (Kim et al., 2020). Mental imagery of people who do not suffer from depression leads to an underestimated affective prognosis and does not play an adaptive role.
Limitations of Theories and Research
The limitations of the presented theories and research in cognitive psychology are twofold. Firstly, it is impossible to see mental imagery, so scientists have to study the parts of the brain responsible for the formation of thoughts. For example, Broca’s area in the human brain consists of two departments (Steil et al., 2022). One is responsible for speech; the other activates when solving tasks that require serious mental effort. The work of this brain area governs the formation of an emotional response to positive and negative events, which allows tracing the impact of mental imagery to a certain degree. However, the amount of neurologic evidence in favor of the connection between mental imagery and emotion is still limited.
Another limitation lies in the questionable reliability of evidence obtained via interviews, which is especially problematic in studying mental illnesses. The opinions of the people interviewed in the course of the studies may be biased. Hence, it is difficult to assess their reliability (Renner & Holmes, 2018). However, there are physical manifestations of mental illnesses, which serve as an objective confirmation of the presence of the disease (Schwarz et al., 2020). For instance, depression occurs due to the lack of neurotransmitters – universal intermediary substances that transmit signals in the brain from one nerve cell to another. Neurotransmitters are involved in the work of the organs of vision and hearing and the formation of tactile and temperature sensations. Without these substances, the information that reaches the brain becomes distorted; for instance, favorite activities cease to please, and music is heard differently. In addition, concentration and memory function decrease: in a depressed state, it becomes more difficult to remember good experiences and create positive mental imagery (Skard et al., 2021). Given that neurotransmitters are responsible for forming mental imagery, any distortions may cause severe emotional disorders.
Conclusion
Despite the limitations associated with the problematic access to neurologic evidence and potential bias in participants’ answers, it is possible to claim that mental imagery significantly influences human emotions. Results of the relevant studies in cognitive psychology allow to conclude that mental imagery is more powerful than language descriptions. The information serves as an affect and directly influences cognitive function; this effect is especially prominent in mental illness cases when negative mental imagery prompts distress and cognitive distortions. Both positive and negative mental imagery amplifies emotions and provides an individual with motivation for specific behaviors. Overall, the process of mental imagery formation can be considered automatic and profoundly impactful.
References
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