Individual Differences

Genetics

If 2 people have the same previous experience, amount of practice, level and amount of instruction, and motivation to perform a skill, then why would they possess different levels of proficiency?

abilities

genetic traits that determine the success, or achievable potential, for the performance of a skill

- all individuals possess all _____, and they cannot be measured

- stable and cannot be changed

- each motor skill requires specific motor abilities to successfully perform it

50

how many motor abilities has research identified?

static strength, stamina, reaction time, hand-eye coordination, and dynamic balance

name 5 motor abilities

limit

abilities are the building blocks of skills and limit the level that a particular skill can be obtained. However, if someone is weak in a particular motor ability that is required for a particular motor skill, they can still learng the motor skill and demonstrate improved performance, however, their weakness in that particular ability will ____ the ultimate level of their performance

reaction time

brief time lag between when the stimulus is presented and the response is initiated

increase

how does this affect reaction time? (increase/decrease)

- more response choices

increase

how does this affect reaction time? (increase/decrease)

- more uncertain

decrease

how does this affect reaction time? (increase/decrease)

- more consistent warning (foreperiod consistency)

increase

how does this affect reaction time? (increase/decrease)

- psychological refractory period

- e.g. the person has an ____ in RT due to still processing the first (fake out)

increase

how does this affect reaction time? (increase/decrease)

- stimulus response compatability (are things naturally related)

- EX: green means stop

hick's law

a law of human performance stating that RT will increase logarithmically as the number of stimulus-response choices increases

simple

____ reaction time

- one signal, one movement

choice

____ reaction time

- different signals, each one associated with a specific response

discrimination

_____ reaction time

- different signal, only one response

true

T/F: reaction time is the time between stimulus and initiation of movement

movement time

from the initiation of movement to completion of movement

response time

reaction time + movement time

- stimulus presentation to completion of movement

limited

attention is a ____ resource

- we only have so much

attentional capacity

theories of attention are based on the assumption that we have a limited _____ _____

- they help explain why we can or cannot perform multiple tasks simultaneously

quality of output or speed will suffer

what happens when demands on our attention exceed our resources?

kahneman's attention theory

the amount of attention capacity available for a specific performance situation determined by the person's arousal level

enduring dispositions

an automatic influence where people direct their attention

- people spend more attention on new/meaningful tasks

momentary intentions

allocate attention according to instructions

completion of at least one task, enduring dispositions, and momentary intentions

what are the 3 rules on how people allocate attention according to Kahneman's attention theory

low arousal

attentional focus is too broad

not able to pay attention to relevant cues

optimal arousal level

attentional focus narrows and the person can concentrate on task-relevant cues

attentional focus

selectively attending to or concentrating on specific environmental information

ironic effects

phenomenon in which the action an individual was trying to avoid is carried out

internal focus of attention

focus on own body movements (pain, the way the movement feels, etc.)

external focus of attention

focus on movement effects (was the goal achieved)

externally

attentional focus should be ____ focused

- give an action goal rather than a movement goal

- requires less mental effort

- can be verbal cueing or nonverbal (metronome, music, pacing)