Psychological foundation of physical education

Psychological foundation of physical education

The systematic scholarly study of the behavior, feelings, and thoughts of people engaged in sport, exercise, and physical activity.” (Vealey)

Man has always interest in knowing about himself and understanding others. That is why it is said that, through psychology as a subject to understand human nature. That is as old as that of human body. Human beings and animals are product of biological evolution. Their activities are highly complex in nature and directed from within. Since ancient times philosophers have tried to understand why human being and other animals behave as they do.

Definitions:

Psychology

Psychology is a science which is to give us better understanding and control of the behavior of the organism as a whole – William Mc Dougall.

Sports Psychology

Sports psychology is the application of psychological principles to sports and physical activity at all levels of skill improvement – Browne and Mahoney

Meaning:

Psychology

The origin of Psychology is often traced to the Greek Philosophers. The term ‘Psychology’ is derived from two Greek words psyche and logos. Herein psyche means the soul or mind, and the meaning of logos is to talk about or science or study. Thus the meaning of psychology is the science or study of soul. Greek philosophers believed that soul was a responsible for various mental activities such as learning, thinking, feeling etc and also it was the essence or true being of an organism, the cause and the principles of life. As a relation of soul to the body and the functions of the soul could be explained, some philosophers tried to define psychology as science of mind.

Sports Psychology

            The word psychology refers to the study of human behavior. Sports psychology denotes such category of psychology deals with the behavior of athletes and teams engaged in competitive sports. Sports psychology is that branch of psychology which is intimately connected with the human behavior on the play field, both under practice and competitive situations, with a view to bring about the qualitative improvement in performance and maintain the same even during the stresses of competition.

            Sports psychology is an important ingredient of sports training programme and deals with the way in which various psychological states and traits influence sports performance. It is the application of psychology to the issues and problems in the field of sports as the problems of sports persons are unique, different, subtle and complex. Therefore, the main purpose of sports psychology is to understand the behavior of an athlete, to modify it according to the demands of situations, and to optimize the benefits for elite performance and excellence.

Individual differences

Differences between individuals that distinguish or separate them from one another and make on another a unique individual in oneself is names as individual differences. Man and women differ from each other because of sex. No two individuals of either sex are alike in the world. Even the twins are not exactly identical in all respects. Hence all persons differ from one another.

Categories of individual differences

1. Physical differences: Height, weight, complexion, size,, form of the body, eyes hair facial expressions, speech , walk, etc
2. Mental differences: Strong memory, weak memory, quick grasp, slow grasp, reasoning and thinking powers, power of imagination, creative expression, concentration etc. Based on this difference people are classifies as genius, very superior, bright, normal, border line, moron, imbecile and idiot.
3. Motor ability differences: Differences in reaction time, speed of action, steadiness, rate of muscular movement, resistance to fatigue etc
4. Differences in achievement: Difference in knowledge and intelligence.
5. Emotional differences: Differences in love, affection, un stable emotions, anger, fear etc
6. Differences in attitude, beliefs and opinions: Differences in attitude towards different people groups, objects, ideas etc. Differences in respect of belief opinions etc.
7. Differences in interests and aptitudes: Differences in specific tastes, interests, attending social functions, picnics, excursions, social gathering, mechanical aptitude, scholastic, musical or artistic aptitudes etc.
8. Learning differences: Differences are found in the field of learning like some will earn easily and fast, some learn slow.
9. Difference in social and normal development: Differences in adjustability, unsocial or anti social, differences in ethical and moral sense.

Factors of Individual differences:

1. Genetic factor: Each new individual starts with a new gene which is the carriers of traits of a person.
2. Environmental factor: All influences and conditions under which a person lives, grows and develops and the training which on receives. Different environment helps in the development of inborn qualities while the absence of it hinders it.

Individual differences and physical education

            For physical education the individual differences in the matters of buildup of body, height, motor ability etc are important as the differences is the most important item for general education.

1. Keeping in view the natural differences of sex, there should be different programmes of physical education for boys and girls.
2. A class may be divided into three or four groups on the basis of motor ability and separate physical education programme can be conducted based on their ability.
3. Each child should be allowed and encouraged to achieve attainments in training at his own speed.
4. Each child should be given some special training in the game or activity for which he has special aptitude.
5. There should be separate classes for children who have retarded physical growth or are physically handicapped.

Individual differences in motor learning:

            In any learning situation, be it with children or adults, the teacher must provide for individual differences among the learners. The importance of considering individual differences in motor development, readiness, motivation, and reinforcement has to be taken into consideration.

            While consideration of individual’s differences is advocated, designing learning experiences to accommodate individual differences requires careful planning and commitment on the part of physical educators. It is not an easy task to design learning experiences for a diversity of abilities, but it is not an impossible one. The physical educator should drive to help each individual to be the best he or she can be.

Emotional effects:

            Like physical, motor, motivational and perceptual factors influencing the learning of motor skills and performance, emotional factors like tension, anxiety and stress play an important role on learning and performance.. Positive and negative emotions are present. Deep feeling of agitation of the mind is known as emotion. Eg. Joy, happiness, anxiety, fear, tension, stress, love and sorrow. Emotions may be due to the activity, environment and initiated in the minds of the performer. Physiologically, reticular activating system limbic system of the brain is responsible for maintaining the emotions, by secreting limbic hormones.

Attitude:

Attitudes as beliefs that predispose one to act and feel in certain ways – LAHEY

The three basic components of attitude are beliefs, feelings and dispositions to behave. Most of the attitudes are learnt directly from our experiences and we learn from others.

It can be learned by a process of interpretation, response and confirmation.

The attitude retained is the one that is confirms by experiences. Like any other response, attitudes are confirmed or modified through repeated trials.

Attitudes are a realistic summary of experience that one likes what works out well and avoids what works out badly.

An attitude is generally built on previous attitude. A child growing up in a family, a neighborhood, and a town tries on their outlooks and behaviors and finds that they work. He continuously responds in these ways and so on he has learned an attitude.

The attitudes can be changed although the process is slow and change is generally partial. Among the attitudes hardest to alter are those rooted in emotional needs.

We everyday see that we accept views and opinions of persons we respect more quickly than if the same view or opinion is expressed by adversary. This reflects our acceptance on one hand and rejection on the other hand.

Attention

Attention is the concentration of consciousness upon one objects rather that upon another.

It is the process of getting an object or thought clearly before the mind.

It helps in bringing mental alertness and preparedness and as a result one becomes alert and alive tries to exercise one’s mental and physical power as affectively as possible.

Going high quality attention to the skill/task during sports competition is important for effective performance.

Various cognitive strategies and intensive over learning of skills may enhance the capacity to focus attention on the task at hand, resulting in better performance.

There are a number of factors which distract and reduce attention and concentration, which in turn will result in poor performance.

Personality

Personality has to do with individual differences among people in behaviour patterns, cognition and emotion. Different personality theorists present their own definitions of the word based on their theoretical positions.

Personality refers to individual differences in characteristic patterns of thinking, feeling and behaving. The study of personality focuses on two broad areas: One is understanding individual differences in particular personality characteristics, such as sociability or irritability.

People vary in personality and social behavior. It is generally accepted that some of this variation is due to differences in genes and some to “environment”—that is, to differences in people’s experiences.

Definition

According to K. Young, “Personality is a patterned body of habits, traits, attitudes and ideas of an individual’s, as these are organized externally into roles and statues and as they relate internally to motivation, goals, and various aspects of selfhood.

G.W. Allport has defined, “Personality is the dynamic organization with the individual of those psycho-physical system that determine his unique adjustment to his

Meaning

The term personality is used in various senses. Generally, it is used to indicate the external outlook of an individual. In philosophy it means the internal quality. But in social psychology the term personality indicates neither the external or outward pattern nor does it indicate the internal quality. It means an integrated whole.

The term ‘persona’ was used to indicate the actions of an individual. In the modern world and psychology it has come to indicate the sum total of an individual’s characteristics and qualities.

Personality is a sum of physical, mental and social qualities in integrated manner. On the basis of definitions it may be said that there are two main approaches to the study of personality: (i) the psychological and (ii) the sociological. The psychological approach considers personality as a certain style peculiar to the individual. This style is determined by characteristic organization of mental trends, complexes, emotions and sentiments.

The sociological approach considers personality in terms of status of the individual in the group, in terms of his own conception of his role in the group of which he is a member. What others think of us plays a large part in the formation of our personality.

Thus, personality is the sum of the ideas, attitudes and values of a person which determine his role in society and form an integral part of his character. Personality is acquired by the individual as a result of his participation in group life.

Characteristics of Personality:

New comb has discussed personality in the light of certain characteristics and traits. These characteristics and traits are as follows:

1. Personality is something which is unique in each individual:

Personality refers to internal as well as external qualities, some of which are quite general. But it is unique to each individual. It is not possible for any other individual to reproduce or imitate the qualities of the personality of the individual.

2. Personality refers particularly to persistent qualities of an individual:

Every individual has certain feeling as well as other permanent traits and qualities. Personality is mainly composed of the persistent or permanent qualities that exhibit themselves in form of social behavior and attempt to make adjustment with the environment.

3. Personality represents a dynamic orientation of organism to environment:

Personality represents the process of learning. It takes place in reference to the environment. We do not acquire all the traits of personality all at once.

4. Personality is greatly influenced by social interactions:

Personality is not an individual quality. It is a result of social- interaction. In other words, it means that when we come in contact with other members of the society, we acquire certain qualities while we exhibit certain others. All these come to form personality.

5. Personality represents a unique organization of persistent dynamic and social predisposition:

In personality various qualities are not put together. They are, in fact, integrated into one. This integration is nothing but a result of organization which may be different from man to man. The behavior of a person directed to one particular individual may differ from the behavior of another person. That is why; we put the condition of suitable environment. This suitability is concerned with individual specificity.

Dimensions of personality

Personality has focused on different dimensions such as Physical dimension, mental dimension, Social dimension and Emotional dimension.

Physical Dimension: The physical body structure or the physique is the primary aspect or dimension of human personality and all other dimensions are subservient to it. No doubt that heredity has a very important role in the development of this aspect of personality, but heredity alone would be helpless if appropriate environment is not available and vice versa environment alone is not sufficient enough for development of physical aspect of personality as without genetic support, it would be without any base. It will be appropriate to suggest that genetics provide the plinth of base of personality and environment helps in raising a beautiful structure thereon.

Personality to ones physical appearance ie., the outward mask, and how one carries himself. Physique ie., the height structure and muscular frame work , has profound effect on the onlookers. An individual possessing a well built physique tends to be more confident of himself, The manner or the way he carries himself, not only has aesthetic appeal, but it is also a source of admiration for others. It has been generally observed that persons having tall, robust and athletic built have physique are not sure of themselves whereas commanding and effective appearance. Good physique and health do have positive relationship. A person having good healthy physique is able to mobilize all his resources to lead zestful and harmonious life. A healthy individual not only contributes to the welfare of the society by  is an asset to it.

Mental Dimension: A well built physical structure of an individual devoid of mental and intellectual abilities is just like a statue without life. The fact that human beings have been bestowed with higher mental and intellectual abilities is an important distinguishing feature between them and other living organisms. Human personality loses its meaning is conceived without mind and intellect. Man is a psychophysical organism ie., a mind and body unit and one part is incapable of effective survival without the other. it is the marvel of human intellect that this made it possible for us to explore the universe.

Renowned psychologists, physiologists, scientists, philosophers, and leaders are known for their mental and intellectual abilities. Those of us who are more intelligent and mentally alert, react and respond quickly to any sort of stimulation and understand the things in a better way, are always in an advantageous position in the society. Mental and intellectual capabilities of an individual help him in adjusting to new requirements, circumstances, and over changing condition of present day life in a most appropriate way. Importance of mental and intellectual dimension can never be over emphasized

Social Dimension: Inherently, by nature man is a social being. He has learnt speaking, reading, writing, and behaving with others from the society in which he lives. If he is isolated completely form the society, he will not able to survive for long. Man besides gratification of his biological needs and values must fulfill such emergent social values as status, power, affection and good will. This is necessary in order that he may have feeling of being at home in the social world. Sociological and psychological tendencies are intimately related to each other. Psychologically each individual is bon with specific inherent attitudes, interest, tendencies, and capacities. In order to be an acceptable member of the society, he has to mould and modify his behavior, learn and acquire various manners qualities and etiquettes, and has to follow the rules, customs and traditions of the society. The social interaction enables an individual to develop social attributes like tolerance, cooperation and fail play. It inculcates the sprit of services and sacrifice, and cultivates a sense of responsibility and duty besides providing social efficiency. It can thus be said that the essence of an individual’s development is the development of the society

An individual has to discipline all his wishes and desires and be prepared for sacrifices in order to live smoothly in the society. The real recognition of ones personality comes from the society in which he lives. The truth is that both, the individual and the society, are mutually inter-dependent and inseparable. One cannot exist without the other; both develop each other integrally and harmoniously, with full sense of responsibility.

Undoubtedly sociability is a very important quality of human beings. The manner in which he interacts with other members of the society, how he influences their work and conduct, and how he himself is influenced by others is an important aspect of personality. Sociality or social dimension of personality has much wider implications than the other dimensions of personality. Social dimension is the sum of integration of those traits which categorize the typical reactions of one person towards other person. Social dimension is essentially, a matter of how one responds to him and others.

Emotional Dimensions: Emotion is an all important factor in life and occupies very prominent position in our daily life.

A life devoid of emotions is insipid and unattractive; love, affection, etc are not the only emotions by which our life is made worth living. Emotions make our life interesting as well as dull, happy as well as unhappy. These are present in each and every living organism at all the stages of development. Emotions are personal in nature, and differ from an individual to individual.

Every person responds to the situations as result of emotions differently. Every emotional experience involves many physical and physiological changes in our body. Emotions increase energy mobilization in our body. They effect of emotions on our body may be beneficial or harmful. According to Ruch “Emotions play a vital part in our motivational pattern. Life without emotions would be virtually a life without motion”. Since control over the life environment becomes increasingly difficult as we grow up, we should learn to control emotions and develop emotional tolerance – the ability to accept and adjust to unpleasant emotional experience

Factors affecting personality

Heredity

Human life starts form a single cell, the zygote, produced by the union of two germ cells, one each from the parents. Genes are the most powerful indicators of what is being passed on to the child. Genes do not just orchestrate our growth before birth and then leave us alone instead, they are “turning on” and “turning off” in patterned ways throughout our life span and they are partly responsible for attributes and behavior patterns that we carry with us through out our lives. Unique individual genetic make-ups cause us to develop and age in our own ways. The genetic makeup or genotype determines our physiological and even some psychological peculiarities. Heredity is the nature’s process of passing on certain physical and mental characteristics from one generation to another. Heredity is the development potential one receives from its parents, which may be similar or dissimilar to the parents.

Environment:

Environment plays a very significant role ion shaping one’s personality. According to Woods worth “Environment covers all the outside factors that have acted on the individual since he began life”. Soon after his birth, a child is exposed to complex external environment physical as well as social or cultural. Experiences in the environment act in collaboration with inheritance to shape day today behavior. Environment is incapable of changing the basic hereditary characteristics, what it does is to provide opportunities for full expression of these characteristics. All the external physical and social conditions and events can affect us.

Gregarious Instinct:

Emotion is the central and essential interchanging aspect of every instinct. An emotion which accompanies the working of instant is a primary emotion. Other emotions are secondary.

Instinct of Gregariousness is the simplest form. This instinct manifests itself in the desire to be with others and thus represents a natural carving for companionship. This instinct compels the human being to live in the groups, form societies are clubs and enjoy family and social life.

In its most modification it constructs the differences, the war, struggle in the minds of the individual to create the feeling of whole satisfactory and international understanding. These inter tendencies can be utilized in the following ways:

1. Organizing groups
2. Activity and social work
3. Explain the introduction and group process for better teaching and learning.

National Integration

National integration is a psychological and educational process involving the development of feeling of  unity, solidarity and cohesion in the hearts of people, a sense of common citizenship and feeling of loyalty to the nation.

National integration would mean unifying all the forces in the country so as to give the idea of one nation. Co existence, tolerance, cooperation and unity are supposed to be the fundamentals for national integration in the country. The national integration should mean and aim at 1. Counteraction of fissiparous and secessionist tendencies that go to disrupt he national unity and solidarity of India 2. Unification of emotions, thoughts, sentiments and development of understanding.

Education is one of the potent agency to bring about national integration. Dr. Radhakrishnan pointed out that”National integration cannot be built and motor or with chisel and hammer. It has to grow silently in the minds and hearts of man and the process of which it could be achieved was by education”

The following are the vital factors in developing national integration.

1. Teachers:

They have a very significant role on inculcating nationalism in students. The teachers are supposed to possess an emotionally integrated personality, democratic and secular ideas and nationalistic outlook so that they may prepare the pupils for good citizenship.

2. Parents:

The significance in developing attitude towards nationalism also important consider in the multi social, multi religious and multi lingual character of the Indian society. It is thje duty of the parents and elders to prepare the child to appreciate the faiths, customs, manners, practices norms and values of all belonging to other communities, religious and languages etc

3. Institutions:

Educational institutions should take the role of the coordination to relate education to the objective of national integration. The system of education must be such as can help in developing national consciousness among the students and fostering desirable patterns in them, so that they pride in the oneness of the nation.

4. Curriculum:

The spirit of national integration can be imparted in the educational institutions through curriculum. Broadly, it can be classified in two aspects: a. Theoretical or practical b. Co Curricular activities

1. Theoretical or practical

Language teaching: Reference on national integration can be made through translation, composition, paragraph and letter writing, recitation and drama.

Social studies: Unity in diversity in India should be the main thrust given through the teaching of social studies.

Geography: Facts about the land, its natural resources and the interdependence of one region on the other are to be emphasized to promote national feelings.

2. Co Curricular activity: The purpose of promoting the spirit of national integration can be best served if the co curricular activities among the pupils are preplanned to serve the following:

1.      Singing national anthem and respect to national flag.

2.      Celebration of national festivals.

3.      Celebration of birthdays of national leaders.

4.      National and patriotic songs.

5.      Pen leadership clubs.

6.      Literary clubs

7.      Educational tours.

8.      Activities to promote religious tolerance.

9.      Cultural programme.

10.  Sports and games.

11.  Rising of funds for calamity stricken areas.

12.  Inter institution debates and youth activities.

13.  Guide, Scout, NCC and NSS.

14.  Use of mass media(press, radio & tv)

15.  Exhibit of maps of all states.

16.  Exhibits of picture of poets, painters, musicians, national leaders, social reformers, scientists and sports personalities.

17.  Exhibits of minerals, animals, birds, architectural moment of historical places.

18.  Exhibits of pictures of important temple, churches and mosques in different part of India.

19.  Chart of alphabets of different languages.

20.  Introducing a common school system of public education.

The above mentioned programme and activities can be conducted to promote national integration among students in our country.

Psychological Benefits of Physical Activity

• Improves health-related quality of life.
• Improves one’s mood.
• Alleviates symptoms associated with mild depression.
• Reduces anxiety.
• Aids in managing stress.
• Enhances self-concept, self-esteem, self-efficacy, and self-confidence.
• Offers opportunities for affiliation with others.
• Offers opportunities to experience “peak” moments.
• Provides recreation and a change of pace.
• Offers an opportunity for individuals to challenge themselves and strive for mastery.
• Offers creative and aesthetic experiences.
• Increasing recognition of physical activity as a therapeutic modality.

SOCIOLOGICAL FOUNDATION OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION

Sociology is the study of people, groups, institutions, and human activities in terms of social behavior and social order within society.

Many sport sociologist have used critical inquiry to examine and interpret the issues (expose the abuses, discriminations, and injustices of contemporary sport)

Sociology of sport, alternately referred to as sports sociology, is a sub-discipline of sociology which focuses on sports as social phenomena. It is an area of study concerned with various socio-cultural structures, patterns, and organizations or groups involved with sport.

Influence of social institutions on the individual, the social behavior and human relations that occur within a group or an institution, and how they influence the individual, and the interrelationship between various institutions within society, such as sport, education, religion, and government.

Physical Activity and Sport are social Phenomena

¢  Physical activity and sport are related to the social and cultural contexts in which we live

¢  Physical activity and sport provide stories & images used to explain & evaluate these contexts

¢  Physical activity and sport provide a window into culture and society

Individual and Society

An individual at different levels of age comes into contact with different people. The child grows and develops in the society, family being the basic unit of the society. It is the family that exerts in great influence upon his life. The greater part of what most children believe and know comes from the family influences and these continue to be the major force behind their behavior and adjustment, knowledge, experience, and character. Then again they come in to contact with other group of human society which also modify the pattern of the response to a certain stimulus. So they personality of the child develops out of the action and the interaction of the nature and mature, the people the world around him and everything else.

As said earlier, the individual influences others as well as his influences by the external as well as the internal forces of the people and the idea around him. The change in his behavior comes gradually as the previous experiences are passed on to him. And he perceives and analyses things around him. Physical education must afford opportunity to all individual to have healthy reciprocal interaction. We all have been profoundly influenced by the norms and customs around us. On the other hand, great man with greater experience, knowledge, skill and character to have influenced the prevailing order of any society. The Buddha, Mahatma Gandhi, Nehru, Stalin, etc have made very deep impact on society. In this same way in social groups of lower order and individuals influences the groups and group individual. Almost all team games and competitions offer an opportunity to influence others as well as influenced by others.

DESIRE FOR RECOGNITION AND RESPONSE

We live in society as its members. Very purpose of forming the society to live together, develop together, and to recognize each others worth. The child has its inmate tendency of getting reward and recognition by exhibiting his skills in front of others. This inmate desire does not die out even after he becomes an adult. On the other hand, this desire for recognition becomes more profound and more urgent. The vary seeds of competition, cooperation and exhibition are shown in desire to get recognition.

In the society, we develop team sprit, co-operation and understanding at the same time the individual has some interest of his own which he aims to protect. He becomes a competitor for the sake of getting the recognition, prestige and praise etc from others. He wants that other members of the society should recognize his existences, abilities, and achievements. More and more recognition is earned when group circles get widen. Clubs, forums, societies, political parties are instances of these group circles which helps us to get recognition.

In the field of physical education there are many channels of recognition of which two are that of competition and co-operation, the third one physical education is to become a curricular subject. So that the teachers and students who participate would get more recognition.