Can you visualise a better future? New BBC Ideas film in partnership with Social Sciences

"Can visualisation help you achieve a better future?" is the fourth and final short film in a series developed as part of a partnership between BBC Ideas and Oxford's Social Sciences Division.

Now in its second year, the partnership is aimed at harnessing Oxford’s academic research excellence. The five-minute films explore ideas that challenge and inform viewers, ranging from the impact of monitoring children locations and online activity to the surprising benefits of exercising with others, and the mental health benefits of gaming. 

Can visualisation help you achieve a better future?

Using the same senses that we use to perceive the world, this cognitive simulation process enables us to represent perceptual information in our mind and compare the consequences of our actions across different decisions. It is a powerful tool for thinking and planning for the future, and a skill that can be trained. 

A group of psychologists and economists researched the effects of embedding mental imagery techniques into scalable economic programmes, with publications available on the Centre for the Study of African Economies website. 

In the film, economist Ashley Pople explains the work carried out in Colombia and Ethiopia where - in partnership with local governments – the team trained people from the local community to deliver programmes to displaced and vulnerable populations that would support them in identifying economic opportunities, as well as starting and growing a business.

BBC Ideas produces a variety of thought-provoking short films and videos aimed at a general audience of under-35s that are designed to offer a fresh perspective across a broad range of topics and issues. All the films (including previous ones) can be viewed on the Expand your mind: Social Sciences x BBC Ideas playlist on YouTube.