Interactive effects of different visual imagery perspectives and narcissism on motor performance

J Sport Exerc Psychol. 2010 Aug;32(4):499-517. doi: 10.1123/jsep.32.4.499.

Abstract

Two studies examined the interactive effects of different visual imagery perspectives and narcissism on motor performance. In both studies participants completed the Narcissistic Personality Inventory (NPI-40: Raskin & Hall, 1979) and were assigned to either an internal visual imagery or external visual imagery group. Participants then performed a motor task (dart throwing in Study 1 and golf putting in Study 2) under conditions of practice, low self-enhancement, and high self-enhancement. Following completion of the respective tasks, participants were categorized into high and low narcissistic groups based on their NPI-40 scores. In both studies, high narcissists using external visual imagery significantly improved performance from the low to the high self-enhancement condition, whereas high narcissists using internal visual imagery did not. Low narcissists remained relatively constant in performance across self-enhancement conditions, regardless of perspective. The results highlight the importance of considering personality characteristics when examining the effects of visual imagery perspectives on performance.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Athletic Performance / psychology*
  • Female
  • Golf / psychology
  • Humans
  • Imagination*
  • Male
  • Motor Skills*
  • Personality*
  • Self Concept*
  • United Kingdom