Enhancing performance proficiency at the expert level: Considering the role of 'somaesthetic awareness'

Toner, John; Moran, Aidan

Abstract

© 2014 Elsevier Ltd. Objectives: Traditional theories of motor learning (e.g., Fitts & Posner, 1967), along with certain contemporary psychological perspectives (e.g., Weiss & Reber, 2012; Wulf, 2013), postulate that expert performers must relinquish paying conscious attention to, and/or attempting to exert control over, their bodily movements in order to achieve optimal performance. Challenging such largely unquestioned conceptual approaches, however, is an emerging body of evidence (e.g., see Montero, 2010; Shusterman, 2011) which indicates that 'somatic reflection' (i.e., a conscious focus on bodily movement) is an important mediator of continuous improvement (i.e., the fact that certain performers continue to improve their skills even after becoming experts) at the elite level of sport. The present position paper seeks to elucidate and resolve this apparent paradox concerning the role of bodily awareness in expertise. Design: Literature review and position statement. Method: To achieve this latter aim, we draw on empirical evidence (e.g., from research on somatic attention) and theory (e.g., Shusterman's, 2008, theory of body consciousness) to elucidate the role of bodily awareness in facilitating continuous improvement at the elite level of sport. Results and conclusion: In doing so, we sketch some theoretical and practical implications of Shusterman's (2008, 2011, 2012) theory of 'somaesthetics' for contemporary research on expertise in sport.

Citation

Toner, J., & Moran, A. (2015). Enhancing performance proficiency at the expert level: Considering the role of 'somaesthetic awareness'. Psychology of sport and exercise, 16(P1), 110-117. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2014.07.006

• Acceptance Date: Jan 1, 2014
• Online Publication Date: Jul 22, 2014
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2015
• Deposit Date: Jul 10, 2015
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 10, 2015
• Journal: Psychology of sport and exercise
• Print ISSN: 1469-0292
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 16
• Issue: P1
• Pages: 110-117
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2014.07.006
• Keywords: Expertise, Somaesthetics, Conscious processing
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/376372
• Publisher URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1469029214001010?via%3Dihub
• Additional Information: This is a description of an article which has been published in: Psychology of sport and exercise, 2014, v.16, part 1 at http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1469029214001010