Unit 1

What is the core idea of the Maturational Perspective?

Development is driven by an internal biological clock and central nervous system (CNS) maturation, meaning environment cannot alter the genetically predetermined timeline.

Who were the key figures in the Maturational Perspective and what did they study?

Arnold Gesell (studied biological timelines using twins) and Myrtle McGraw (studied twins in different environments to examine nature vs. nurture).

What is the distinction between Normative Descriptive and Biomechanical Descriptive perspectives?

Normative Descriptive focuses on quantitative performance outcome scores (e.g., running distance, throw speed), whereas Biomechanical Descriptive focuses on qualitative sequential movement pattern changes.

How does the Information Processing Perspective model motor development?

It views the brain like a computer that processes sensory inputs, executes decisions, and outputs motor commands, focusing on environment-driven learning, feedback, memory, and attention.

What is the core concept of the Ecological Perspective?

It stresses a continuous dynamic interplay between individual, environmental, and task constraints, viewing motor control as distributed throughout the body rather than controlled solely by the CNS.

What is a rate limiter or rate controller in the Dynamical Systems Approach?

An individual system or constraint that holds back or slows the development of a motor skill until it reaches a critical threshold.

What are affordances and body scaling in the Perception-Action Approach?

Affordances are the function/action possibilities offered by an environment based on individual capabilities. Body scaling is adjusting equipment or environment dimensions to match the physical dimensions of the performer.