INTERNAL VS. EXTERNAL

Differences between "seeing from one's own eyes" and "seeing as a spectator".

In the practice of visualization, athletes can adopt two different points of view.

The internal perspective involves experiencing the action as if it were being performed in the first person, seeing through one's own eyes. It's like wearing a subjective camera (GoPro) on your head.

On the other hand, the external perspective consists of seeing yourself performing the action from the outside, as if you were watching a video recording or were a spectator in the stands. A clear example would be a high jumper.

If you use an internal perspective, you will see the bar approaching, the ground moving away as you take off, and your own legs passing overhead.

If you use an external perspective, you will "see" yourself running down the runway, arching your back over the bar and dropping to the mat, watching your body's technique in space.

Both perspectives are valid, but serve different purposes: the internal one usually favors kinesthetic sensation and "timing," while the external one is useful for correcting body form and alignment.

Individual preferences and assessment questionnaires (VMIQ)

Not all athletes have the same facility for generating images in one perspective or the other.

Some have a natural preference for external viewing ("seeing themselves on TV"), while others connect better with internal viewing.

To determine this preference and the athlete's imagery ability, standardized tools such as the Visual Movement Imagery Questionnaire (VMIQ) are used.

It is important to note that elite athletes tend to have a greater preference and capacity for the kinesthetic perspective (associated with internal), as it allows them to "feel" the movement, muscle tension and emotions of competition more vividly. However, there is no universal "right" way.

A figure skater might benefit from the external to assess the aesthetics of his or her turns, while an Olympic shooter would almost exclusively need the internal to align the sights.

The psychologist must assess these preferences to tailor training scripts.

Summary

There are two distinct visual approaches: the internal and external perspective. The internal perspective involves experiencing the action in the first person, while the external perspective observes the performance as if one were a spectator.

Each perspective serves a different function in mental training. The internal view favors kinesthetic connection and timing, while the external view is more useful for correcting technical alignment.

Although elite athletes often prefer the internal for "feeling" the movement, there is no single correct way. It is crucial to assess individual preferences through questionnaires to adapt training scripts.