Visualisation is the first step to health


Monday 4th August, 2008

Alternative MedicinePeople who can visualise themselves performing an action that is associated with healthy behaviour are more likely to then carry out their intentions, a study has revealed.

The research carried out at the University of Sheffield is the first of its kind that has looked at the effects of mental simulation on subsequent intentions. The study involved the intention to go and give blood and found that people who visualised making an appointment, travelling to the destination and then going through the process of giving blood were more likely to intend to donate blood than those who didn’t do the visualisation, or only visualised the final outcome.

“Once people have a specific and fixed intention like going to a fitness class, or eating a healthy breakfast, then they’re really likely to go through with it, so finding a way to help people to change or fix their intentions is a vital step in improving their health behaviour,” said Christopher Armitage who carried out the study.

“There is evidence that shows that mental simulation may link thought and action. Our study suggests that closing your eyes and imagining the process you would go through to give blood, or carry out another health behaviour could take you one step closer to actually doing it.

“Each of the 146 participants in the study directed their own two minute long mental simulation after brief instructions, which also suggests that this process may be a quick way that people can successfully alter their own intentions and health behaviour.”

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