Dr Julie Ji

School of Psychological Science, University of Western Australia

Title: Can mental imagery-based episodic simulation influence behaviour?

Abstract: Mental imagery-based episodic simulation (MI-ES) allows us to pre-experience hypothetical future experiences, which has been shown to evoke emotions in the present (anticipatory emotion) and impact judgments about future outcomes (what might happen and how likely) and its emotional impact (anticipated emotion). While researchers have hypothesised that mental imagery-based episodic simulation drives behaviour, few studies have directly investigated the link between MI-ES and in behaviour. This colloquium will present the latest published and unpublished findings from correlational and experimental studies investigating individual differences in MI-ES and behaviour that have implications for clinical research on emotional and behavioural dysregulation.