Lecture 12 - The Secret to Predicting Which Young People Develop Their Talent

Question 1

What are some home environments of youngsters who become elite performers?

Answer 1

child-oriented

achievement-oriented

responsibility-oriented

Question 2

What are the three typical stages of involvement?

Answer 2

phase1: exposure and playful interaction

phase2: moderate skill building (internalization)

phase3: intensive preparation toward expertise

Question 3

What are the key factors associated with talent development (Csikzentmihalyi 1997)?

Answer 3

“a talent will be developed if it produces optimal experiences”

a sense of effortless action felt in moments that stand out as the best in our lives (flow)

components of flow:
- clarity of goals
- immediate feedback
- challenges and skills are matched
- absorbed in the task
- sense of personal control
- altered sense of time

Question 4

How to help the child sustain deliberate practice?

Answer 4

help to make it flow

Question 5

What are the similarities/differences between Cz’s theory of flow and Ericsson’s theory of deliberate practice?

Answer 5

similarities
- goal-oriented
- required complete attention
- find ways to measure progress
- beyond the comfort zone

differences:
- play at the edge of our capabilities
- suffer at the edge of our capabilities

• carried by a current?
• slip-sliding in rapids?
• mastery focus?
• performance focus?

Question 6

how to distinguish whether parental involvement is healthy?

Answer 6

evidence of psychopathology?
- narcissistic parents
- ego-involved parents

what is the over-arching goal in encouraging sport or music participation?