Spatial imagination

Spatial imagination (also imagining space ) can generally be described as the ability of humans and other living beings to see and think spatially in their imagination . This ability includes the acquisition, organization and active use of mental images. Spatial imagination is a fairly global construct. It is therefore not surprising that, even among experts, no consensus has yet been found on a uniform definition of spatial imagination. This is probably due to the fact that this construct can actually be divided into further sub-skills.

The focus is on recognizing the position and relationship of bodies in three-dimensional space . There are different perspectives on the imagination of space, as described in a major meta-analysis from 1985 by Linn and Petersen: the psychometric , differential, cognitive and strategic perspective. The most important in this context is the psychometric perspective: This focuses on the measurement of spatial imagination by means of suitable psychometric tests , from the results of which one can then calculate factors, i.e. components of the spatial imagination, by means of factor-analytical studies. It is more or less suitable for specifying the individual sub-components.

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Rost (1977) reports on more than 50 studies which make two or three factors of spatial perception more likely than a one-factor theory of spatial cognition, as it is e.g. B. El Koussy assumed in 1935 with a “factor k”. What exactly these factors are is, however, controversial.

According to Thurstone , imagining space is one of the seven so-called primary mental abilities of Thurstone's intelligence theory and is divided into three factors: visualization, spatial relations and spatial orientation .

• Illustration stands for the mental representation of movements. This includes mental rotations , spatial shifts or folding of objects or their parts.
• Spatial relationships stands for the ability to grasp the spatial configurations of objects or their parts. In other words, it describes the ability to identify an object from different perspectives.
• Spatial orientation ultimately stands for the correct spatial classification of one's own person in a spatial situation.

In the much-cited meta-analysis by Linn and Petersen with the three factors spatial perception, the ability to imagine rotations (mental rotation) and visualization (spatial visualization) one can also find meaningful subdivisions.

A good spatial imagination is helpful to grasp the relationships between the representational geometry . In technical drawing , this skill plays an important role in both creating and reading engineering drawings. Design and construction are not feasible without this imagination.

Spatial perception and imagination in combination with appropriate motor skills and good reflexes are essential for sporting activities such as B. Ball games.

The development of spatial awareness is also a major concern of card reading in school lessons.

Last but not least, spatial imagination is the basis for safe professional practice in many planning and manual activities. Imagination of space can be trained.

literature

• E. Breetz: Anaglyphs to support spatial imagination and map understanding in geography lessons. In: Zeitschrift für den Gekundeunterricht, issue 11/1966, pp. 413–421 (with picture and map supplement).
• Detlef H. Rost: Space concept. Beltz, Weinheim 1977, ISBN 3407580126 .
• PH Maier: Spatial imagination. Auer, Donauwörth (1999), ISBN 3403030903 .
• MC Linn & AC Petersen: Emergence and characterization of sex differences in spatial ability: a meta-analysis. Child Development (1985), 56 (6), 1479-1498.