Mental imagery is increasingly recognized as having an important role in relation to autobiographical memory and psychopathology. Autobiographical memories frequently take the form of mental images (Conway & Pleydell-Pearce, 2000; Tulving, 1984) and, as mentioned in Bernsten (Chapter 9) can be recalled both voluntarily or involuntarily as a normal part of everyday life (see also Berntsen, 1996; 2010). Autobiographical memory for most individuals demonstrates a positivity bias. For example, more positive memories are recalled than negative ones; individuals perceive a greater number of positive events than negative events as occurring in their lives; and the emotional affect of negative memories fades faster than for positive ones (Walker et al., 2003b). However, in psychopathology this bias can be disrupted. After trauma, involuntary mental images and memories, for example, of an intrusive image of a car crash or assault, can be distressing and disruptive. In depressed individuals it can become difficult to recall positive memories, creating an automatic bias toward more negative information and increasing negative affect. Mental imagery offers a possible route to alleviating distress in psychopathology by reducing the occurrence of negative imagery or boosting positive imagery and biases toward positive imagery and information.
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