Visualizing Success: the Influence of Mental Simulation in an Expressive Writing Context on Academic Performance

The research presented here is based on the author's doctoral dissertation and describes an investigation of potential influences on academic performance associated with writing, and thinking about, various topics related to academic success. Studies have shown that expressive writing about life goals is associated with academic, psychological and health benefits. Research on mental simulation also has consistently shown an association between academic performance and the cognitive rehearsal of hypothetical academic events, such as when participants visualize themselves successfully completing an exam. This work explores the the ways in which mental simulation, expressive writing, and academic success are connected, and examines the influence of additional factors, such as self- eficacy and optimism, on academic success.