The Psychology of Mental Imagery in Movement and Action

The Psychology of Mental Imagery in Movement and Action provides an up-to-date evaluation of mental imagery research, from a theoretical and applied understanding, and presents new findings on how the field of mental imagery has progressed in the areas of movement and action. Mental imagery has become one of the most widely adopted psychological training techniques by coaches, athletes, and mental performance practitioners, with extensive research proving its benefit for athletic and general populations in preparing for competition, reducing anxiety, improving the performance of motor skills, and rehabilitating from injury. In recent years, mental imagery research has experienced a resurgence with new findings providing greater clarity on how mental imagery may work and how it may best be implemented by practitioners to enhance successful outcomes.

The Psychology of Mental Imagery in Movement and Action explores these new findings and may inform an enhanced understanding of mental imagery theory, procedures, protocols, strategies, and techniques aimed at enhancing the performance and learning of movement and action. Discussed in this book are key areas of mental imagery practice across different settings and populations such as action preparation and performance, strategies for designing and delivering imagery interventions, optimizing strength performance, and emerging areas of research and applied imagery practice.

Practical implications are provided for those practitioners who may be involved in developing movement and action, including coaches, rehabilitation specialists, and mental performance consultants and is key reading for academics and students alike in the field of sport psychology.