Emotional experiences in motivational imagery

Athletes frequently report using the motivational general-mastery function of imagery (e.g., overcoming challenging situations) and the motivational general-arousal function of imagery (i.e., managing emotions). Despite the reported frequency of using these imagery functions the relationship of imagery ability and the emotional experiences of athletes has received minimal attention in the literature. The purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship between athletes' motivational imagery ability and the emotional experience of those images. To assess the relationship between imagery ability and emotional experiences 43 undergraduate kinesiology students who regularly participate in sport completed the Motivational Imagery Ability Measure for Sport; requiring the imagery of 8 motivational imagery scenes rated on two 7 point scales: ease of image formation and strength of emotional experience. Participants also rated their emotional experience for the scene on the Sport Emotion Questionnaire (SEQ). Pearson correlations indicated athletes who had a better ability to experience emotions associated with both motivational general-mastery and arousal images experienced positive emotions (excitement and happiness) more intensely (r = .32-.55). Athletes who rated motivational general-mastery images as easy to form also rated excitement as higher (r = .45). No other relationships with the ease subscale and items on the SEQ were found.