A review of self modeling and related interventions

About 150 studies exist in print, examining the use of self modeling (mostly in the video medium) in a variety of training and therapeutic applications. Evidently, two lines of thoughts have driven the development of these applications: (a) an extension of peer modeling or (b) a description of personal success. Studies report self-modeling interventions for physical skills (rehabilitation, sports), academic and vocational issues, communication, and personal and social adjustment. A wide range of ages (toddler to grandparent) and diverse developmental conditions have been addressed. The most fruitful applications may be those that emphasize the image of future success-skills not previously attained and adaptive responses to a challenging context. Rather than examine efficacy related to target "problems," this review identifies categories of application made possible by current knowledge and technology (e.g., use of hidden supports, selectively editing low-frequency behaviors). Seven such categories are identified and illustrated with descriptions of interventions. The evidence is used to argue for the recognition of learning from the observation of one's own successful or adaptive behavior (or images of it) as a mechanism in its own right.