Mentalscape- Psychology Concept

 

Mentalscape refers to the cognitions present in mind as described by a person as if they were describing what they are watching in a short video. 

In the context of a meaningful conversation, a person might ask another what they are thinking. The response reveals their mentalscape. A lengthy response might be more like the description of a video instead of a still image. Mentalscapes are more like paintings or creative videos than those taken by a camera because the person describing the scene interprets their world based on their memories, experiences, cognitive biases and so forth. Memory is dynamic. We interact with our memories. When we speak about them, they are created works albeit often, but not always, based on real life experiences.

The mentalscape reveals the patterns of thought. The patterns are schemes or schemata that organize categories of information or concepts and the relationships among them. 

In psychotherapy, a clinician may ask a client to describe an experience. That experience becomes present in the mind and becomes the current mentalscape. The memory is viewed in the present as if the client were describing a scene, but neither the clinician nor the client has direct access to the original, untouched, external event.

Memories, Mentalscape, scheme

Rumination in Psychology

 Rumination is a repeated negative thought or cognition about the past, which produces emotional distress. The condition is common in obsessive-compulsive and generalized anxiety disorders. The repeated negative thoughts can be difficult to control.

Although it is possible to repeat positive thoughts, the focus is usually on the problem of repeated negative thoughts. Rumination is a barrier to forgiveness when an offended person rehearses a past offense.

In the literature, articles by Nolen-Hoeksema and his colleagues explore rumination.

References- read more

Nolen-Hoeksema, S. & Morrow, J. (1991). A prospective study of depression and posttraumatic stress symptoms after a natural disaster. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 61, 115–121.

Nolen-Hoeksema, S., Wilco, B.E. & Lyubomirsky, S. (2008). Rethinking rumination. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 3(5), 400–424.

Role play and Psychology

 

Role play is a technique to develop social relationship skills by having people act out different social roles. Role playing can help people learn attitudes and coping skills that may improve relationships and has wide applicability in industry, education, psychotherapy, parenting, and couple or marital enrichment.

Role playing may promote perspective taking, a component of empathy.