Developing Visualization Skills
by Alan Pritt
The ability to manipulate visual images in our imagination is a key component of most IQ tests and is even more important in everyday intelligence. But what if you cannot visualise?
If all you can see is your eye lids, this doesn't necessarily mean you have no visualization skill at all. It simply means you have difficulty in consciously recognising those visual images. It all happens unconsciously, and when you try to focus your attention on it, it disappears.
While we can certainly cope very well without being able to consciously see our mental images, there is a huge benefit in being able to. When we can consciously analyse our mental images we can specifically work on improving our visualization skill. Since visualisation is such a huge part of IQ, this is likely something you want to put some effort into developing.
In this article you will learn a method of gaining awareness of your visualizations. And if you can already visualise, this will improve your visualization skills so that the images become clearer and easier to work with.
Have Faith
First of all you need to believe you have the ability to visualise. Many people are convinced they just can't visualise, when in fact they just have trouble consciously doing so. If I ask you what the colour of your front door is, it is highly likely that you would find the answer by remembering a visual image of your door. Some people also know that they can visualise in their dreams. If you can do that, you can also visualise when awake.
Here's a little thought experiment you can do right now. Read the following passage, and then answer the questions that follow:
Imagine you are standing in a quiet street. You're waiting for someone, whom you've never met. It's night time, but you can see quite clearly because a streetlamp lights your way. Shops line the street on both sides except for the railway station behind you. Between a couple of the shops, an alleyway cuts through. The area is built up enough that you cannot see around the corners at either end of the street.
The man you are meeting may arrive from either end of the street, or maybe through the alleyway, or even from out of the train station.
It's quiet, but occasionally the odd person drifts through. Some arrive from the train station, some through the alleyway and others from around the corner at the end of the street. You're on the lookout for you acquaintance so you look at each person as they come and disappear from each of these entrance points.
And then you spot him.
Imagine that scene and then answer the following questions. The text doesn't reveal the answers, so imagine what you think the answers could be.
- From where does your acquaintance come from?
- What is he carrying?
- What colour is his jacket?
If you can understand the passage and answer these questions, you can at least unconsciously visualise.
State of Mind
One of the biggest barriers to tuning in to your visualization skills is your state-of-mind. I find my best images come about just as I am trying to get to sleep. I'm still conscious, but I'm peaceful and near to drifting off. When we are drifting off to sleep, our brains operate at a different frequency (called theta) to during the day time, and this different frequency allows us to see visual images with more clarity.
Ironically, the harder we try to become consciously aware of our visual images, the harder it becomes to see them. If you feel any sense of frustration, stress, boredom or any other negative states-of-mind you will find it much harder to visualise. If you find this a particular obstacle, it would be wise to get some practice with a meditation for clearing the mind.
The Imagestream
Imagestreaming is a visualisation technique developed by Win Wenger. Using this technique you simply close your eyes and describe the images you see to either a live listener or into a tape recorder. There are many reasons why this may have a positive effect on your intelligence, but one reason is certainly that it helps develop your visualization skills.
One of the rules is that you describe the images you see in rich sensory detail. So if you saw a car you wouldn't say that you see a red Ford saloon with alloy wheels. Instead you would describe the shine, the colour, the shape, the speed it was travelling, the subtle curve of the roof and so on. In other words, instead of naming parts like wheel, door, etc, you use basic sensory descriptions such as line, distance, colour and texture. This encourages you to see details where before there was nothing, and so you gradually improve the detail of the images. It's a very similar process to drawing, only you do it all in your mind.
Describing what you see out loud to a live listener or tape recorder is not vital but highly recommended. It seems to enhance the process, probably because you put more emphasis and energy into what you describe when you know it will be listened to later.
You can read more about imagestreaming here.
Imagestreaming real objects
The exercise I'm going to describe is based on Imagestreaming, but also combines an exercise I believe originates with Leonardo da Vinci. He used this technique to improve his own visualization skills. Da Vinci's visualisation skills, of course, were a huge part of his genius.
The exercise is as follows:
- Select an object to describe. Choose something you find particularly interesting. Flowers are particularly good because they are interesting and full of detail for you to describe.
- If possible find a partner to listen to you, or at least a recorder to record your voice.
- Place the object in front of you, and get into a comfortable position with a good posture.
- Spend two to three minutes describing out loud the object you see in front of you. Use only sensory descriptions such as line, texture, colour, et cetera.
- When a few minutes have passed, close your eyes and begin repeating that description. Try to recreate the image of the object in your mind. As you describe you will probably get a sense of distance and general shape, but probably won't see any images at first. Concentrate on what you can perceive and remain open to any new perceptions.
- Repeat 4 and 5 until you decide to stop
Can you do it?
Some people have a lot of trouble developing this visualization skill so this may require a lot of work. On the other hand, other people will get it straight away. If you are one of the people who really struggles, you will actually gain the most benefit from this and improve your intelligence more than those who find it easy.
As I said, try not to force it. Trying will actually make it more difficult. If you start to feel bored or frustrated, stop and turn to practicing a simple meditation for concentration instead. You can then come back to this later.
To increase the chances of getting really good images, I find sessions of around half an hour usually starts to reveal the best images. However, the more you practice, the faster they come.
On occasions I can see images so realistic you could almost mistake them for reality, but you don't need to get to that level for this to be useful. However, it's something to strive for, because it is incredible when it happens.
