Do you ever give up easily in difficult situations? If so, imagine yourself as someone with great abilities, like Batman. It will help you feel strong. You will not give up easily and will probably do better. This is called the Batman Effect.
In a study, researchers gave three groups of six-year-old children a difficult task to complete on a computer. In Group One, the children were told to repeat asking themselves, "Am I working hard?" In Group Two, the children were told to ask themselves the same question in the third person—as in "Is Sam working hard?" And in Group Three, the children were told to imagine themselves as Batman and ask themselves, "Is Batman working hard?" Researchers found that the children in Group Three did the best.
How can you make use of the Batman Effect? Imagine yourself as someone who is the best for the task you are doing. If you're facing a personal difficulty, imagine yourself as a wise family member. If you're running a race at school, imagine yourself as a top runner. In this way, you can become a little more like the person you wish to be.
