This is a subject which has fascinated me for awhile now. I have a fairly weak mind's eye. If you tell me to picture a wooden swing hanging from a tree, I can do it, but it's not like looking at a photograph. It's sort of narrow and vague. I either see a rough example of one, or I can zoom in on some finer details (like the wood grain), but not really both at the same time. If you tell me to picture a mountain covered in pine trees, I can do that a bit easier because it's something that I've actually seen, so I might recall a photo I took on vacation. If you ask me to create a fantasy landscape, I suppose I can sort of do it, piece by piece, but it's not something I excel at by any means and I suspect I would mostly draw existing examples I've seen elsewhere for inspiration. Regardless of what I picture, it's never crystal clear or vibrantly colorful; it's usually somewhat vague and lacking nuance. The only time I see vivid imagery is when I am lying in bed at night. Occasionally my mind will spontaneously supply me with beautiful patterns (like mandalas) or works of art it has created. I have no control over this and enjoy it deeply when it occurs, but I would never be able to recall what I saw at a later time. Additionally, I struggle with remembering people's faces, even those very close to me. I can do it, but it's not crisp and usually utilizes images I have seen before, like a photo or a memory/impression, like sitting on the couch next to said person.
How do you experience mental imagery? Do you experience it at all? Some people lack the ability to do so, which I find tragic. Also, if you could state your MBTI type, I'd appreciate it.
Here is the article:
Some people can't see any pictures in their imagination, and here's why