Parameters of therapeutic imagery: Directions from case studies.

Stalking the elusive "vividness" effect.

“…The authors concluded that forming an image of information does not, in itself, affect judgments, although it may improve memory. This conclusion may seem to fly in the face of a substantial literature that has used imagery as a therapeutic technique for chang-ing self-perceptions and perceptions of others (Ahsen, 1965(Ahsen, , 1968Gendlin & Olsen, 1970;Singer, 1971;Wilkins, 1974Wilkins, , 1976 as well as an eductional literature that demonstrates imagery-facilitated learning (e.g., Paivio, 1969Paivio, , 1970. An examination of these findings, however, reveals no inconsistency among positions.…”

Structured fantasy as an adjunctive technique for the treatment of depression.

“…As is often the case with clinically derived procedures, the mechanisms by which change is effected are difficult to determine. In a review of imagery techniques, Wilkins (1974), points out the many inconsistencies in the theories and procedures. This technique falls within Wilkins' primary-scenes classification.…”

“…Techniques which emphasize imaginal and cognitive components have increasingly been used as a means of producing overt and covert behavioral change (Wilkins, 1974). For exam-ple, Lazarus (1968Lazarus ( , 1971) used the structured fantasy technique of time projection with depressed clients.…”

Imagery-based decisions.

“…Recent years have witnessed an increase in the scientific study of imagery processes in psychological laboratories and a recognition of the therapeutic utility of imagery in applied settings. From this growing literature, it is apparent that a technology exists which may be used to increase learning and memory ability (Paivio, 1969(Paivio, , 1970, increase self-awareness (Gendlin & Olsen, 1970), make diagnostic assessments (Kosbab, 1974), and reduce psychological problems (Singer, 1971;Wilkins, 1974) in a manner which allows clients to readily generalize the skills learned in the therapeutic setting and apply them to deal more effectively in their daily living. To this repertoire of skills based on imagery may be added the skill of making decisions effectively and efficiently through the use of imagery.…”

“…The content of the therapist's instructions is relatively unstructured in their design to elicit images of consequences as the client imagines them to be rather than consequences as the therapist imagines and describes them to be. The content of the imaginal scenes emanate from the client rather than having the scenes formed by, and as a consequence, limited to the descriptions provided by the therapist which is the practice with other therapeutic tools such as systematic desensitization and implosion (Wilkins, 1974).…”