Relationship Between Vividness of Visual Imagery and Self-regulation

Abstract

Self-regulation is considered one of the most important operations of the human self and is correlated with multiple variables. The objective of this quantitative study was to explore the relationship between one’s capacity to generate vivid visual mental images and one’s capacity for both behavioral and physiological self-regulation. 53 participants completed three assessments for this study: the Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire (VVIQ-2) measured capacity for mental imagery; the Self-Regulation Questionnaire measured behavioral self-regulation; and a baseline assessment of heart rate variability using a HeartMath® device measured physiological self-regulation. When using bivariate correlations to analyze the data, the results revealed that a significant relationship existed between capacity for visual imagery and self-reported behavioral self-regulation. Using a more modest α level of 90%, there was also a weak relationship between capacity for visual imagery and the predetermined markers for physiological self-regulation. These results underscore the value of visual imagery and imagery vividness when working with individuals struggling with self-regulation and they open the door to exploring causality between the two.