Importance 4
The of Subjective Experiences in Physical Activity
KIN 170
Chapter 4 - Objectives
Learn about 4 commonly overlooked truths about physical activity Learn about the nature of subjective experiences of physical activity Learn what makes physical activity enjoyable, boring, or frustrating
(continued)
KIN 170
Chapter 4 - Objectives
Learn how individual preferences, tastes, dispositions, activity history, and personal circumstances contribute to subjective experiences Learn about the subjective experiences of watching sport and how vicarious factors affect the spectator
(continued)
KIN 170
Questions to consider:
What about exercise do you find enjoyable? Not enjoyable? Why do you play sports? Not play? What similarities (differences) do you see between work and sport? What similarities (differences) exist between physical exhaustion/tiredness in sport and exercise and that experienced in labor tasks?
Four Truths About Sport and Exercise
Always accompanied by subjective experiences
Subjective experiences are unique Might do physical activities without ever asking why or understanding purpose
Unlikely to be meaningful unless enjoyable
KIN 170
Always accompanied by subjective experiences Subjective experiences are important.
Gestures (e.g., jumping up and down) are expressions of subjective experiences. Complete understanding of physical activity must take into account: intellectual, emotional, and spiritual responses as well as physiological (continued) responses.
KIN 170
Always accompanied by subjective experiences Subjective experiences refer to the entire range of emotional and cognitive reactions, dispositions, knowledges, and meanings derived from physical activity. How physical activity makes us feel is a personal matter that may determine whether or not we engage in physical activity. (continued)
KIN 170
Subjective experiences are unique All physical activities are different (kicking a ball vs. typing). We seek out exercises and sport because they supply us with unique forms of human experiences which typically differ from those of our everyday lives.
KIN 170
We might perform physical activities without understanding why Participation is often spontaneous. We may focus on competition or achieving goals (e.g., becoming fit) without thinking about the subjective nature of physical activity.
KIN 170
Physical activity is unlikely to be meaningful unless it is enjoyable-
Why Subjective Experiences Are Important
One of the primary reasons we participate in exercise and sport is that they supply us with unique forms of subjective experience that are not available in other daily activities.
KIN 170
Subjective experiences are important because they can help us:
clarify the bases of our career choices develop our skills as a physical activity professional us learn that subjective experiences determine whether or not people participate in physical activity
The Nature of Subjective Experiences
Immediate subjective experiences Replayed subjective experiences
KIN 170
Immediate subjective experiences:
Sensations received from proprioceptors can be converted into perceptions, emotions, and knowledge. The full experience of physical activity also includes emotional and cognitive impressions. Individual activities provide more opportunity to reflect on subjective experiences.
KIN 170
Replayed subjective experiences:
The passage of time helps to put physical activity experiences in perspective. The passage of time may distort past subjective experiences from physical activity.
Components of Subjective Experience
Sensations, perceptions
Emotions, responses
continued
Components of Subjective Experience
Knowledge gained through subjective experience Psychoanalytic self-knowledge
knowledge about our deep-seated desires, motivations, and behaviors
Mystical knowledge
(Zen self-knowledge); not ordinarily experienced; out of real world (e.g., peak experience)
Socratic self-knowledge what we can and can not do; "playing within ourselves"
Communicating Subjective Experiences
It can be difficult to find the right words to communicate our subjective experiences of sport and exercise to others. It is important that we try, however, since this helps us better understand the personal meanings we find in physical activity.
Intrinsic and Extrinsic Approaches to Physical Activity
Extrinsic approaches: Valuing physical activity because of the benefits that come from participating
Intrinsic approaches: Valuing physical activity because of the subjective experiences embedded within the activity itself
(continued)
KIN 170
Story:
A group of youngsters played a lively and loud pick up game of baseball on a daily basis at a field located next to a wise old man's home. One day the wise old man said to the baseball players, "I like to see and hear you play. Therefore, I will give each of you 25 Becoming aold man cents each time you play.". The wise Physical follow through on his promise for two weeks. Then one day he refused to give them the Activity money. The youngsters said, "OK, we are not Professional going to play here again.". Why was the old man wise?
13
Intrinsic and Extrinsic Approaches to Physical Activity
Intrinsic to approaches sport (TEOSQ Task and Ego Orientation in Sport Questionnaire) Intrinsic approaches to exercise (SEES Subjective Exercise Experience Scale) Internalizing physical activity
KIN 170
Task and Ego Orientation in Sport Questionnaire (Duda):
used to measure intrinsic-extrinsic motivation to participate in sport
task oriented - measure competence in sport on how well you improve your performance; intrinsic motivation; ("I learn a skill and it makes me want to practice more.") ego oriented - measure competence in activity by comparing performance to others; extrinsic motivation; ( "I can do better than my friends.")
When do you feel most successful in sport? In other words, when do you feel a sport activity has gone really good (well) for you? I feel most successful in sport when...
Item Statement A B C D E F G I'm the only one who can do the skill. I learn a new skill and it makes me want to practice more. I can do better than my friends. Others can't do as well as me. I learn something that is fun to do. Others mess up and I don't. I learn a new skill by trying hard. Strongly Disagree 1 2 3 4 Strongly Agree 5
When do you feel most successful in sport? In other words, when do you feel a sport activity has gone really good (well) for you? I feel most successful in sport when...
Item Statement H I J K L M I work really hard. I score the most points. Something I learn makes me want to go and practice. I'm the best. A skill I learn really feels right. I do my very best. Strongly Disagree 1 2 3 4 Strongly Agree 5
Ego orientation score= (A+C+D+F+I+K)/6 Task orientation score= (B+E+G+H+J+L+M)/7
KIN 170
Subjective Exercise Experience Scale (McAuley & Courneya):
Scientists have yet to identify precisely how the subjective aspects of exercise differ from those of work. Scale to assess subjective responses to exercise.
KIN 170
Internalization of Physical Activity
Internaliaztion - gradual process of moving from extrinsic to intrinsic factors as a basis for participation in physical activity 5 stages of internalization:
aware of physical activity respond to physical activity with positive feelings going out of your way (seek out) to be involved in physical activity conceptualize and organize the importance of physical activity by talking about it internalize by integrating beliefs and attitudes into a commitment to the activity
Even though sport and exercise may provide participants with many different kinds of benefits, most people likely engage in them because of the unique subjective experiences they offer.
Factors affecting our enjoyment of physical activity
Factors Related to the Activity Itself
We are more likely to enjoy physical activities when the challenges of the activity match our abilities, when the activity has clear goals and feedback, and when the activity is arranged in a competitive framework.
KIN 170
Factors Related to the Activity:
Balance between challenges of the activity and the ability of the performer
skills and challenges frustration skills and challenges boredom matched skills and challenges enjoyment
Activity provides clear goals and clear feedback about results of performer's effort
effective feedback - immediate and correct information
Activity is competitive
Factors Related to the Performer
Dispositions
Perceived competency - self efficacy (how adequate we feel to perform a task) Absorption - feelings of enjoyment increase when we become absorbed in the activity Perceived control - feelings of enjoyment increase when we feel in control of the environment surrounding the physical activity
(continued)
Factors Related to the Performer
Attitudes
Social experience - people with affinity for social experiences seek out certain types of physical activity (e.g., team sports) Health and fitness - some people enjoy reaching for their physiological limits Pursuit of vertigo - some people enjoy the risks and thrills of physical activity
continued
Factors Related to the Performer
Attitudes
Aesthetic experience - some people enjoy the aesthetic experience of dance and other physical activities Cathartic experience - purging and venting pent up tensions brings some people enjoyment Ascetic experience - pain, self-denial, and delayed gratification associated with training is enjoyable to some
*Borg scale (Ratings of Perceived Exertion)
Factors Related to the Social Context
Alone vs. presence of others
Environment
Sense of perceived freedom
Physical activities are never performed in a vacuum; the social context and immediate environment surrounding them can affect our sense of enjoyment. An example of this is how feeling forced to engage in an activity rather than freely choosing to do it can make it less enjoyable.
Spectatorship as a Subjective Experience
Vicarious participation: Feeling as though one is engaged in a sport contest one is watching
Disinterested spectatorship: A form of watching sport contests in which the observer is nonpartisan in his or her feelings about the outcome
(continued)
Spectatorship as a Subjective Experience
Factors Affecting Enjoyment of Sports Watching
Game spectator knowledge
Spectators' feelings toward the competing teams and players
Human drama of sports competition