Psychological Foundations of

Physical Education and Sport

Hummaira Farah
( [email protected])
Department of Sports Sciences and Physical Education
Faculty of Allied Health Sciences
 Course Details
• Course Title: Philosophical Basis of Physical
Education
• Course Code: BSSSPB101
• Degree Program: Bachelor of Science in
Sports Science and Physical Education
• Semester: 1st
• Day: Monday & Tuesday
• Timing: 10:00 am to 11:00 pm
• Timing: 12:00 am to 02:00 pm
Class strength: 138
Learning Objective
At the end of the session, you would be able
to understand,
•Psychological Foundations of Physical
Education and Sport
•Motor Behavior
•Historical Development of Motor Learning
and Motor Control
•Information Processing Model
•Stages of Learning
•Ten Motor Learning Concepts
Learning Objective
• Historical Development
• Psychology of Sport and Exercise
• Historical Development
Psychological Foundations of
Physical Education and Sport

•What are the information-processing model

of motor learning and the concepts related to
it?
•How do the concepts of feedback, design of
practice, and transfer apply to physical
education, exercise science, and sport?
•What are the psychological benefits of
participation in sport and physical activities?
 Learning
• Learning is a relatively permanent change in
behavior or performance as a result of instruction,
experiences, study, and/or practice.
• Learning is inferred from changes in performance.
• Motor behavior is concerned with the learning or
acquisition of skills across the lifespan and
encompasses three areas:
• Motor learning
• Motor control
• Motor development
 Motor Behavior
• Motor learning
• Study of the acquisition of skills as a
consequence the practice.
• Motor control
• Study of the neural mechanisms and
processes by which movements are
learned and controlled.
Historical Development of Motor
Learning and Motor Control
• Early Period (1880-1940)
• The Research focused on how did mind
worked, not the production of skills.
• Thorndike: Law of Effect
• When responses were rewarded, the
behavior strengthened.
Historical Development of Motor
Learning and Motor Control
• Middle Period (1940-1970)
• Craik focused research on how the brain
processes and uses the information to
determine the motor response.
• Henry:
• “Memory drum theory” (role of cognitive
activity in motor learning)
Historical Development of Motor
Learning and Motor Control
• Present Period (1970-present)
• Emergence of motor learning and motor
control within physical education programs.
• Closed Loop theory (Adams)
• Schema theory (Schmidt)
• Dynamical Systems theory (Kelso)
Areas of Study
• How does the type and frequency of feedback impact
skill acquisition?
• How does the structure of practice influence the
retention of skills?
• What can be done to facilitate the transfer of previous
learning to the learning of new skills?
• How does the aging process affect motor control?
• How do differences in individuals’ learning styles
influence their ability to learn motor skills?
 Information Processing Model
• Input
• Information from the environment through
the senses.
• Decision-making
• Input evaluation and integration with past
information .
• Response selection
Information Processing Model
• Output
• Response execution
• Feedback
• Information about the performance and
quality of the movement. Information
gained here can guide future
interpretations, decisions, and responses.
 Stages of Learning

• Cognitive Stage
• Understanding of the nature and goal of the
activity to be learned
• Initial attempts at the skill - gross errors
• Associative Stage
• Practice mastering the timing of the skill
• Fewer and more consistent errors
 Stages of Learning

• Autonomous Stage
• Well coordinated and appears effortless
• Few errors
• “Automatic” performance allows
attention to be directed to other aspects
of skill performance
Factors Influencing Learning
• Readiness
• Physiological and psychological factors
influencing an individual’s ability and
willingness to learn.
• Motivation
• A condition within an individual that initiates
activity directed toward a goal. (Needs and
drives are necessary.)
Factors Influencing Learning
• Reinforcement
• Using events, actions, and behaviors to
increase the likelihood of a certain response
recurring. May be positive or negative.
• Individual differences
• Backgrounds, abilities, intelligence, learning
styles, and personalities of students
 Motor Learning Concepts
1. Practice sessions should be structured to
promote optimal conditions for learning.
2. Learners must understand the task to be
learned.
3. The nature of the skill or task to be learned
should be considered when designing practice.
 Motor Learning Concepts
4. Whether to teach by the whole or the part
method depends on the nature of the skill and
the learner
5. Whether speed or accuracy should be
emphasized in teaching a skill depends on the
requirements of the skill.
6. Transfer of learning can facilitate the
acquisition of motor skills.
 Motor Learning Concepts
7. Feedback is essential for learning.
• Knowledge of results (KR)
• Knowledge of performance (KP)

8. Learners may experience plateaus in learning.

9. Self-analysis should be developed.
10. Leadership influences the amount of
learning.
 Motor Development
• Study of the origins and changes in movement
behavior throughout the lifespan.
• Biological and environmental influences on
motor behavior from infancy to old age.
• Influence of psychological, sociological,
cognitive, biological, and mechanical factors on
motor behavior.
• Rate and sequence of development.
 Historical Development
• Maturational Period (1928-1946)
• Research on the underlying biological
processes guiding maturation.
• The rate and sequences of motor
development from infancy in terms of
acquisition of rudimentary and mature
movements.
 Historical Development
• Normative/Descriptive Period (1946-1970s)
• Description of the motor performances of children.
• Research on how growth and maturation affect
performance and the impact of perceptual-motor
development.
• Process-Oriented Period (1980s-present)
• Research on how cognitive factors influence motor
skill acquisition and motor development based on
dynamical systems theory.
 Areas of Study
• What are the heredity and environmental
factors most significantly associated with
obesity?
• At what age can children safely engage in
resistance training?
• How does socioeconomic status affect the
development of motor skills?
• How does early sensory stimulation affect the
development of motor skills?
Phases of Motor Development

• Gallahue developed an hourglass model…

• Early reflexive and rudimentary (Basic)
movement phases:
• Hereditary is the primary factor for
development. Sequential progression of
development but individuals’ rates of
development will differ.
Phases of Motor Development
• Fundamental movement phase:
• Skill acquisition(gaining) based on
encouragement, instruction, and
opportunities for practice.
• Specialized movement phase: Refinement of
skills
• “Turnover”: Hereditary and environmental
factors that influence the rate of the aging
process.
 Fundamental Movement
Phase
• Initial Stage (~ age 2)
• Poor spatial(3D) and temporal(TIME
BASED) integration(addition) of skill
movements.
• Improper sequencing of the parts of the
skill
• Poor rhythm, difficulties in coordination
 Fundamental Movement Phase
• Elementary Stage (~ age 3 & 4)
• Greater control and rhythmical coordination
• Temporal and spatial elements are better
synchronized.
• Movements are still restricted, exaggerated, or
inconsistent.
• Mature Stage (~age 5 or 6)
• Increased efficiency, enhanced coordination, and
improved control of movements.
• Greater force production
 Psychology of Sport and Exercise
• “The systematic scholarly study of the
behavior, feelings, and thoughts of people
engaged in sport, exercise, and physical
activity.” (Vealey)
 Psychology of Sport and Exercise
• Questions addressed:
• Is the personality profile of an elite athlete ?
• What are the psychological benefits of
participation in regular physical activity?
• How does anxiety influence performance?
• What factors influence an individual’s
adherence to a rehabilitation program?
• How does self-confidence influence
performance?
 Historical Development

• The Late 1890s and early 1900s: Norman Triplett

did first research on what became known as the
Social Facilitation Theory.

• 1918: Griffith known as the “father of sport

psychology”
• In 1938, he became the Chicago Cubs team’s
sport psychologist researching how to enhance
motivation and improve self-confidence.
Cont.…

• Late 1960s and 1970s:

• Sport psychology as a subdiscipline of
physical education.
• Undergraduate and graduate curriculums,
research programs, and professional
societies.
• 1979: Journal of Sport Psychology began
publication.
 Historical Development

• 1980s: Researchers embraced an applied

approach to the field.
• 1986: Association for the Advancement of
Applied Sport Psychology (AAASP) was
organized.
• Exercise psychology evolved as a specialized
area of study.
 Cont.…
• An Increase of interest by clinically trained
psychologists help to shape the field.
• 1988: Journal of Sport Psychology became
known as Journal of Sport and Exercise
Psychology
• 1990s-present
• Rich diversity in approaches to the field
and areas of study.
• Tremendous opportunity to teach,
consult, and research in the field.
References…
• https://slideplayer.com/slide/1729947/
• https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-
dentistry/motor-learning
• https://www.simplypsychology.org/edward-thorndike.
htm
• https://courses.lumenlearning.com/principlesmanage
ment/chapter/11-2-understanding-decision-making/
• https://www.kdplatform.com/four-stages-learning/
• https://bestbusinesssolutions.com/coast-guard-
bdkg/10-motor-learning-concepts-9b28a9
Learning Outcomes
After this session, the students should have the
knowledge about …
•Psychological Foundations of Physical
Education and Sport
•Motor Behavior
•Historical Development of Motor Learning
and Motor Control
•Information Processing Model
•Stages of Learning
•Ten Motor Learning Concepts
Learning Outcomes
• Historical Development
• Psychology of Sport and Exercise
• Historical Development
 Thank you.
You may ask any question now…