More Scientific/Psychological Terms for “Acting the Part”

Question

Is there a scientific term or psychological phonomenon for meeting your goals by imagining you have already met them? For example, if I wanted to be a corporate executive, then I might decide to act and work like I was already a corporate executive, in the hopes that one day hiring representatives might notice that I already have the persona and work ethic required for the job, and therefore promote me to such a role?

I guess I'm looking for something like "acting the part"... but in more of a behavioural science kind of way.

Answer 1

I'm not sure if there's a special scientific term, but in general you would call that aspirational thinking or action.

(from fuzzyanalysis: Self-Determination was my favourite answer, based on a Google search with 'aspirational' in it)

Answer 2

Fake it 'til you make it.

"Fake it 'til you make it" (also called "act as if") is a common catchphrase that means to imitate confidence so that as the confidence produces success, it will generate real confidence. [Wiki]

You might also choose to rephrase it to something like "be as you'd like to become."

Answer 3

This is an example of a process called visualization:

The use of mental images to influence bodily processes, control pain, or prepare for athletic or other kinds of performance.

[emphasis added]