We explain what imagination is, how it is stimulated and its relationship with creativity. Also, what types of imagination exist.
What is imagination?
The imagination It is the individual ability to mentally conceive or ideate an image or impression that may or may not correspond to reality. In other words, it is an abstract and creative process that builds representations of what the senses perceive, but in the absence of real external stimuli. For example, a person can imagine the sound of a musical instrument, without this meaning that it is actually playing or that it was played recently.
In this sense, imagination has to do with recollection and memory, since the things that are imagined have in some way something to do with previous reality (even when reality is freely reconfigured, as in fantasy). In fact, the imagination It can be a tool to interpret or understand reality, through the conceptualization of theories.
The word “imagination” comes from Latin imagination (“representation”, “image” or “illusion”) and this in turn from the word imago (“portrait”, “likeness” or “appearance”). Many of these meanings and associations are still valid, since the term “imagination” or the verb “imagine” can be used to refer to both creative thoughts and personal fantasies and illusions (for example: “I didn't say that, you must have imagined“).
Imagination is used in numerous human activities: from science and research, to literature and artistic creation, and this is why since ancient times it has been the object of study of different disciplines and philosophical perspectives. While Its scientific study, by neurology and psychology, dates back to the 20th century.
See also: Thinking skills
Types of imagination
Two types of imagination are commonly distinguished, depending on the way in which each one works: reproductive imagination and creative imagination.
The reproductive imagination It consists of the construction of mental images from past events and experiences, that is, using memory as raw material to form new mental images and stories.
creative imagination It consists of the creation of mental images that do not have to do directly with any memory or recollection, but are formulated through original, unsuspected paths. This type of imagination, in turn, can be classified into:
- positive imagination when it leads to high-energy emotional and mood states, for example, when it provides the solution to a dilemma or a novel point of view regarding something.
- negative imagination when it leads to low-energy emotional and mood states, for example, when we recreate problems or suffering that lead us to a state of helplessness or pain.
Importance of imagination
Imagination is a fundamental mechanism of the human being to deal with reality, which allows us to build new points of view and thus approach problems in a different way share experiences in a peculiar way, or reflect on your own existence, your past and your future. Desire, beliefs, assumption and memory are elements strongly connected to imagination.
Although we do not understand it perfectly yet, imagination is highly valued in our societies, since constitutes an inexhaustible source of ideas and representations to which all individuals are capable of accessing, in one way or another, and to a greater or lesser extent.
Imagination and creativity
If imagination is the ability to mentally conceive different ideas, images and points of view, Creativity is the ability to give real form to the contents created by the imagination through the application of different techniques and procedures.
A creative person, therefore, usually has a great imagination, which does not mean that they spend the entire day dreaming, but rather that they can imagine new ways to use their talents or tools. For example, a person can learn to make pottery to reproduce learned patterns, or to explore new shapes and create a gallery of statues of their own.
In ordinary language, “imagination” and “creativity” can be used as synonyms, but the truth is that the first term refers more to mental abstractions and the second to their application in a specific method or procedure.
How is the imagination stimulated?
To stimulate the imagination, different methods can be applied, such as:
- Read more and see more movies. Since imagination is a creative form of mental reproduction, it is important to provide it with content to use as raw material. Thus, the more you read, the more films you watch and the more contact you have with the creativity of others, the more your own imagination will be encouraged. Going to the museum, reading a novel or going to the movies are good examples.
- Have new experiences. Another way to fuel the imagination is through new experiences that are out of the ordinary or challenging, such as enrolling in a painting workshop or visiting an unknown city.
- Spend time meditating. Meditation, in its different forms and methods, is a good way to reconnect with the mental contents that go unnoticed on a day-to-day basis. Through it it is possible to reconnect with the memory and explore in a deeper way the experiences that have been had.
- Actively Bored. In a time of so many distractions and entertainments like the contemporary one, the creative value of boredom has often been forgotten. Active leisure, that is, doing nothing and dedicating yourself to thinking and looking at the world, is an ideal way to stimulate the imagination. It's not about lying down looking at the ceiling, but rather going out for a walk or sitting for a while and looking out the balcony.
- Surrender to curiosity. Curiosity is a great ally of the imagination, and often the most creative and imaginative people are also people eager to know more about less useful matters in reality. Sometimes it is simply necessary to venture into a field of knowledge that is foreign to us, to discover the passion for knowledge and understanding, and thus bring new content to the imagination. For example, you can watch a documentary, read a technical book, or attend a conference on topics other than the usual ones.
Continue with: Creative thinking
References
- “Imagination” on Wikipedia.
- “Etymology of Imagination” in the Online Spanish Etymological Dictionary.
- “Imagination” in the Language Dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy.
- “How to stimulate the imagination at home?” at the Catholic University of Maule (Chile).
- “Imagination” in Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.
