magine purchasing a ball and a SMARTGOAL combo for just €1.10, with the SMARTGOAL being exactly €1 more expensive than the ball. How much does the ball cost on its own? Your initial thought might be 10 cents, right? Let’s dive deep to understand the cognitive processes behind such decision-making and its profound influence on sports training.
Read more: The Mind’s Dual Systems: Impacts on Sports and Decision-MakingThe Two Systems of Thinking:
Nobel Laureate, Professor Daniel Kahneman, researched how our brain processes information and introduced two systems:
1. System 1 (Effortless Thinking): This system functions effortlessly and is utilized in everyday scenarios like gauging someone’s mood. It operates mostly on autopilot, making quick, instinctive decisions. However, this fast thinking isn’t adept at analytical tasks that require deep, rational thought.
2. System 2 (Analytical Thinking): When faced with intricate problems, like complicated math or establishing rational connections, we activate System 2. This mode of thinking demands deliberate, conscious attention and is believed to differentiate humans from other species.
Sports and the Dual Systems:
But how does this cognitive science relate to sports? Let’s explore the process of mastering specific sports movements. Picture a ski instructor providing multiple instructions. As a learner, you may try to remember all the pointers simultaneously. The linked video demonstrates what likely ensues:
Your System 2 busily recalls all the guidelines. Still, when unexpected changes occur, like sudden acceleration, System 1 takes charge. The result? You might end up in the snow. In dynamic team sports, such as soccer or basketball, basic movements should ideally be ingrained in System 1, freeing System 2 for quick decisions, spatial awareness, and goal-directed attention.
Implicit vs. Explicit Learning:
There’s another distinction between these systems: Implicit (Unconscious) and Explicit (Conscious) learning. The goal for athletes is to unconsciously learn sport-specific movements, relegating them to System 1. This ensures System 2 can focus on in-game choices concerning other aspects. Elite athletes, like Messi or Nadal, probably have their strategies and movements hardwired into System 1, allowing their System 2 to shine at crucial moments.
Real-Life Applications:
Back to our ball and SMARTGOAL riddle: if the ball costs 5 cents and the SMARTGOAL, being €1 more expensive, is €1.05, then together they total €1.10. System 1 might hastily deduce 10 cents for the ball, but on closer examination, System 2 reveals the correct answer. Similarly, walking through a bustling city, asking someone to multiply 19×57 will likely make them stop; System 2 kicks in, diverting all focus to the problem.
Interestingly, an Israeli study on judges showed that before meal breaks, only 35% of detainees were granted parole, which increased to 65% post meals. It wasn’t the case specifics but rather the judges’ hunger influencing their decision. This suggests the paramount importance of nourishment for optimal brain function.
Conclusion:
System 1 and System 2 aren’t only vital in daily life but also significantly impact sports-specific scenarios. Recognizing and training with these systems in mind can dramatically affect an athlete’s performance.