Reciprocal recursive nonconscious behavior mimicry, PE groupings, and modification-by-adaptation

ABSTRACT

This manuscript outlines the possible benefits of nonconscious behavioural mimicry (NBM) to Physical Education (PE). The identification of NBM as an unexamined phenomenon in PE will be explored, as well as factors mediating its occurrence. Further, this manuscript will discuss the speculated origins of this phenomenon within the human species. Drawing on ecological cognition, this paper seeks to explain how students in PE could benefit from NBM in mixed ability groupings within adaptive environmental constraints. Describing a volleyball example using teaching strategies informed by both Teaching Games for Understanding and the Sport Education Model, the authors propose possible benefits and applications of this phenomenon in game-based PE lessons.

KEYWORDS:

• Physical education
• ecological cognition
• interpersonal coordination
• nonconscious behavioral mimicry

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Dr. Jesse Lee Rhoades is an Associate professor in the College of Education and Human Development, University of North Dakota. He taught physical education at the middle school level before completing his graduate work in biomechanics at Indiana State University and Pedagogical Kinesiology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. His research is focused on complexity theory and its application within physical education. A particular emphasis of his work is on the phenomenon of interpersonal coordination, and its instructional applications within physical education.

Dr. Timothy Hopper is an associate professor in the Faculty of Education, University of Victoria, BC. He received his PhD from the University of Alberta. His scholarly work focuses on teacher education, physical education, and applications of complexity theory in teaching and learning. Dr. Hopper has taught at all levels of the school curriculum both in Canada and the UK. His current research projects focus on the use of digital portfolios in local schools and the application of complexity ideas to the teaching of PE.