Abstract
Two studies examined the theory that emotive-abstract, sensory modality, and control imagery are functionally distinct abilities and that emotive-abstract imagery and image control are directly related to the quality of intherapy imagery. In Study One, 199 subjects completed self-report measures of sensory modality, molar imagery, and image control and completed an analogue clinical visualization task. In Study Two, 53 test-anxious covert behavior therapy participants completed the self-report battery and provided ratings of in-therapy image clarity. Results indicated that emotive/abstract imagery, sensory modality imagery, and image control are factorially distinguishable abilities; a cross-sample factor analysis revealed some instability but a theoretically consistent pattern of results. Regression analyses demonstrated that emotive-abstract imagery abilities were the best predictors of performance on the analogue task, whereas both image control and emotive imagery were related to the clarity of in-therapy imagery. Results illustrate the qualitative difference between low- and high-order image processes and the possible interaction between emotive imagery and image control. Implications for imagery assessment and individual differences research are discussed.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Alpert, R., & Haber, R. (1963). Anxiety in academic achievement situations.Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 61 207–215.
Beere, D. (1972). Systematic desensitization and imagination: A test of London's cognitive integration of behavior therapies.Dissertation Abstracts International, 32 5432B-5432B.
Cautela, J. (1971).Covert modeling. Paper presented at the annual convention of the Association for the Advancement of Behavior Therapy, Washington D.C.
Cautela, J., & Baron, M. (1977). Covert conditioning: A theoretical analysis.Behavior Modification, 1 351–368.
Cohen, A., & Cohen, R. (1975).Applied multiple regression analysis for the social sciences. New York: Wiley.
Danaher, B., & Thoresen, L. (1972). Imagery assessment by self report and behavior measures.Behaviour Research and Therapy, 10 132–138.
Davis, D., McLemore, C., & London, P. (1970). The role of visual imagery in desensitization.Behaviour Research and Therapy, 8 11–13.
Dyckman, J., & Cowan, P. (1978). Imaging vividness and the outcome ofin vivo and imagined scene desensitization.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 46 1155–1156.
Gordon, R. (1949). An investigation into some of the factors that favour the formation of stereotyped images.British Journal of Psychology, 39 156–157.
Haney, J., & Euse, F. (1976). Skin conductance and heart rate responses to neutral positive and negative imagery: Implications for covert behavior therapy procedures.Behavior Therapy, 7 494–503.
Hiscock, M. (1978). Imagery assessment through self-report: What do imagery questionnaires measure?Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 46 223–230.
Kosslyn, S. (1975). Information representation in visual images.Cognitive Psychology, 7 341–370.
Kosslyn, S. (1976). Can imagery be distinguished from other forms of internal representation? Evidence from studies of information retrieval time.Memory and Cognition, 4 291–297.
Kosslyn, S. (1978). Measuring the visual angle of the mind's eye.Cognitive Psychology, 10 356–389.
Kosslyn, S., & Pomerantz, J. (1977). Imagery, propositions and the form of internal representation.Cognitive Psychology, 9 52–76.
Lang, P. (1977). Imagery in therapy: An information processing analysis of fear.Behavior Therapy, 8 862–886.
Lang, P., Levin, D., Miller, G., & Kozak, M. (1983). Fear behavior, fear imagery, and the psychophysiology of emotion: The problem of affective response integration.Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 92 276–306.
McLemore, C. (1972). Imagery in desensitization.Behaviour Research and Therapy, 10 51–57.
McLemore, C. (1976). Factorial validity of imagery measures.Behaviour Research and Therapy, 14 399–408.
McSweeney, A. (1976). Imagery as a variable in the efficacy of systematic desensitization.Dissertation Abstracts International, 36(10-B), 5271.
Meichenbaum, D. (1977).Cognitive behavior modification: An integrative approach. New York: Plenum Press.
Mulaik, S. (1972).The foundations of factor analysis. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Nie, N., Hull, C., Jenkins, J., Steinbrenner, K., & Bent, D. (1975).Statistical package for the social sciences. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Paivio, A. (1978). Mental comparisons involving abstract attributes.Memory and Cognition, 6 199–208.
Rehm, L. (1973). Relationships among measures of visual imagery.Behaviour Research and Therapy, 11 252–264.
Rimm, D., & Bottrell, J. (1969). Four measures of visual imagination.Behaviour Research and Therapy, 7 63–69.
Sarason, I. (1972). Experimental approaches to test anxiety: Attention and the uses of information. In C. Spielberger (Ed.),Anxiety: Current trends in theory and research (Vol. 2). New York: Academic Press.
Sheehan, P. (1967). A shortened form of the Betts Questionnaire upon Mental Imagery.Journal of Clinical Psychology, 23 386–389.
Singer, J. (1974).Imagery and daydream methods in psychotherapy and behavior modification. New York: Academic Press.
Stampfl, T., & Levis, D. (1967). Essentials of implosive therapy: A learning theory based psychodynamic therapy.Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 72 496–503.
Strosahl, K., & Ascough, J. (1981a). Clinical uses of mental imagery: Experimental foundations, theoretical misconceptions and research issues.Psychological Bulletin, 89 422–438.
Strosahl, K., & Ascough, J. (1981b). A multiple component model of clinical imagery: Theoretical and empirical issues. In E. Klinger (Ed.),Imagery: Concepts, results and applications. New York: Plenum Press.
Suinn, R. (1969). The STABS, a measure of test anxiety for behavior therapy: Normative data.Behaviour Research and Therapy, 7 335–339.
Tower, R., & Singer, S. (1981). The measurement of imagery: How can it be clinically useful? In P. Kendall & S. Hollon (Eds.), Assessment strategies for cognitive behavioral interventions. New York: Academic Press.
White, K., & Ashton, R. (1977). Visual imagery control: One dimension or four?Journal of Mental Imagery, 2 245–252.
Wolpe, J. (1958).Psychotherapy by reciprocal inhibition. Stanford: Stanford University Press.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
I wish to thank the two anonymous reviewers of an earlier version of this paper, whose comments were exceedingly helpful in preparing the present version. My thanks also to Philip C. Kendall for his valuable suggestions.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Strosahl, K.D., Ascough, J. & Rojas, A. Imagery assessment by self report: A multidimensional analysis of clinical imagery. Cogn Ther Res 10, 187–199 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01173724
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01173724