What Is The Importance Of Imagination? Know The Explanation According To Studies

Illustration of the importance of imagination (Unsplash/J. Balla Photography)

JAKARTA – Imagination is the ability to think in imagining or creating a picture of events based on experience of the reality that is generally experienced. In psychology, the term imagination is used in constructing the perception of an object that has been given the perception of understanding beforehand.

Imagination is often a variable in various studies. Especially in psychology, imagination is researched and associated with life purpose, well-being, and mental health. The following is a presentation of the study.

People with depression have a blurry imagination about the future

Reported by the Association for Psychological Science, Monday, September 20, a new study published in Clinical Psychological Science examined the imaginary images of two groups of participants.

The first group, people who have imagination around the world and how to achieve it to how to strengthen relationships with friends and family. They have a clear imagination, in contrast to participants who experience depression.

Participants with depressive episodes said that their imaginations were blurry, especially about the future. This causes them to set no goals and see nothing in their imaginations.

The link between imagination and well-being

Other findings slightly explain that imagination is related to the welfare of life. Beau Gamble and colleagues from the University of Auckland, New Zealand found the theses of 153 participants.

Those with higher well-being were able to describe more clearly what it felt like to achieve their goals.

In addition, those who imagined more positive future scenarios were more likely to report high well-being 2 months later. Well, vice versa for those who struggle to imagine a bright future. They tend to feel depressed.

According to Gamble, imagination is an adaptive ability, one of which can be used by someone to help achieve the future they want.

Building identity and purpose can start with imagination

Regarding achievement, everyone has it even if they are not aware of it. In the Gamble study, participants were asked to fill out a questionnaire. They were asked to rate their sadness, joy, achievement, and expected goals. Then, they were also asked to fill out a questionnaire about well-being and depression.

Two months later, they were asked to report progress on their goals. Overall, participants who considered their goals achievable and important to identity reported higher well-being.

Meanwhile, participants who consider their goals to be lacking or unattainable from their efforts, they tend to be unhappy and tend to experience depression.

"Participants who perceived their goals as more achievable and pictured the future more positively were the strongest predictors of mental health at 2 months later," Gamble said.

The researchers said it remains to be seen whether encouraging people to set goals differently can protect against depression. Although previous research has suggested that imagining a more positive future can help people with depression find more rewarding things.