Peter J. Beek
Research Institute MOVE, Faculty of Human Movement Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Citation
J. Beek, P. (2009). Ecological approaches to sport psychology: prospects and challenges. International Journal of Sport Psychology, 40(1), 144-151.
Abstract
The four ecological perspectives on sport psychology that are brought to the reader’s attention in the present issue share much in common. They all aspire to study and understand sports behavior in terms of the actual envi- ronment and the broader context in which it appears and evolves – this is what renders them “ecological”. In addition, each one of them is based on the intellectual legacy of a single creative scholar – Brunswik, Barker, Gib- son, and Bronfenbrenner – each dissatisfied with mainstream psychology and its emphasis on “inner” processes and reductionist methodologies. Finally, and important in view of the present issue’s theme, the four approaches were all developed in contexts other than that of sport psychol- ogy, implying that their relevance for sport psychology still remains to be demonstrated and can only be estimated from the penetrating character of their constituent concepts and corresponding methodologies. Inevitably, this requires a judgment call on the part of the reader, which in turn will depend on the reader’s personal background and research interests. It is therefore useful to state right away that I am interested in the control and learning of movement in the context of skilled actions, and that I have read and evalu- ated the four target articles from this background. At the same time, how- ever, I do believe that most of my criticisms have broader validity and bear- ing as well, but that is of course for others to decide. Here is what I have to say in response to the four target articles.
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