Theories of Motor Development Flashcards
What are the 4 theories of motor development?
Maturational
Biomechanical
Information processing
Ecological
What is the maturational theory?
Gesell and McGraw
innate process driven by a genetic, biological clock
Environmental factors= rate of development
Driven by CNS
Development ends when CNS is fully developped
What is the biomechanical theory?
Put forth by Ruth Glassow
Normative descriptive period
Biomechanical descriptive period (fundamental skills)
What is the information processing theory?
Bandua (social learning)
Skinner (behaviour)
Motor learning and development= computer-like
External input received, interpreted, stored= new motor skill
Memory, attention, and feedback mechanisms
What is the ecological perspective theory?
Inter-relationship between environment, task and individual
Multiple system involvement vs only CNS
Two branches: Dynamical systems and Perception-action
What is the Dynamical systems branch of the ecological perspective?
Spontaneous, self-organization of body systems= movement
Movement behaviour not hard wired (greater flexibility for individual needs
A multitude of interacting constraints: rate limiters and controllers
What is the Perception-Action branch of the ecological perspective?
Affordance: function an environmental object provides an individual
Body scaling: the use of intrinsic (relative to body size) rather than extrinsic dimensions
What are individual contraints?
Intrinsic dynamics:
- Structural constraints: body structure changes, change more slowly over time
- Functional constraints: behavioural function, change over a shorter period of time
What are task constraints?
External to the body
Skill specific
- Goal of movement
- Rule guiding task performance
- Equipment used
What are environmental constraints?
Outside the body: properties of the world around us
Global: Not task specific
Physical: gravity, surfaces
Sociocultural: gender roles, cultural norms
