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University of California, Davis College of Biological Sciences Exercise Biology Major, Dept of NPB

Humans have biological, psychological, social, and cultural motivations for physical movement beyond what is needed for basic survival. Biologically, there may be an intrinsic drive to be active. Psychologically, people find movement pleasurable due to the subjective experiences it provides, such as feelings of play, sensation, flow states, and altered consciousness. Socially, movement is motivated by religious, community, and relationship factors. Culturally, movement allows for transportation, occupational tasks, health, aesthetics, problem-solving, creativity, and playful exploration. Regular physical activity has benefits like preventing cognitive and physical decline while encouraging learning, memory, awareness and flexible thinking.

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82 views2 pages

University of California, Davis College of Biological Sciences Exercise Biology Major, Dept of NPB

Humans have biological, psychological, social, and cultural motivations for physical movement beyond what is needed for basic survival. Biologically, there may be an intrinsic drive to be active. Psychologically, people find movement pleasurable due to the subjective experiences it provides, such as feelings of play, sensation, flow states, and altered consciousness. Socially, movement is motivated by religious, community, and relationship factors. Culturally, movement allows for transportation, occupational tasks, health, aesthetics, problem-solving, creativity, and playful exploration. Regular physical activity has benefits like preventing cognitive and physical decline while encouraging learning, memory, awareness and flexible thinking.

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aung1987
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UNIVERSITYOFCALIFORNIA,DAVIS

COLLEGEOFBIOLOGICALSCIENCES
EXERCISEBIOLOGYMAJOR,DEPTOFNPB

EXB10:ExerciseandFitness:PrinciplesandPractice

JamesD.Shaffrath,MD

Lecture4: TheHumanMeaningsofMovement
I. Introduction: Asweveseeninrecentlectures,humanshaveabiological"requirement"forphysical

activity.Moreover,everycultureintheworldengagesinphysicalactivitiesbeyondthoseneededfor
survival.Why?Theanswer(s)aremultilayeredandincludebiological,ecological,psychological,
and
sociologicaldrives.Itisalsoimportanttorecognizethatmultiplemotivationswithdifferent
epistemic
basescanoccursimultaneously:Forexample,afreedivergatheringfoodfromtheocean
mayenjoythe
subjectivefeelingsofswimminganddiving,mayconsidersuchharvestingfrom
MotherOceanto
havereligiousovertones,maygarnersocialstatusbaseduponhercatch,as
wellas securingsufficient
caloriestofeedherfamily.
II. ASurveyofMotivationsforHumanMovement
A. Biological
1. Survival
2. IsthereanIntrinsic"drive"tobeactive?
B. SubjectiveExperience(Ilikehowthisfeels)
1. Play(seeE,below)
2. Sensual
3. Unusualsensations,ordanger(esp.sensationseekingpersonalities,AKAthrillseekers)
4. Exercise"Addiction"
5. "Flow"experience,"Runner'sHigh"(alteredconsciousness)
6. AlteredconsciousnessassociatedwithSpiritualStates(CorroboreeDance,Raves)
C. Social
1. Religious
2. CommunityStatus/CulturalContinuity
3. SocialCohesion,CommonConnection,andTeamBuilding
4. Aesthetics(tocreateandsharebeauty)
D. "Rational"Motivations:Transportation,Health,andOccupation
1. "Togetthere"
2. PhysicalHygiene,Rehabilitation
3. "ToWork":Firefighters,Police,Warriors,Dancers,Entertainers,andProfessionalathletes
E. WhyMove?"BecauseWeCan":Play,NovelMovements,ProblemSolving,andCreativity
1. Humans,comparedtootherapes,retainmanyjuvenilecharacteristics(anevolutionaryprocess
called"neoteny");inmanyways,humans(HomoSapiens)are"PeterPanPaniscus"(the
chimpanzeesthatnevergrewup).
2. Oneyouthfulcharacteristicretainedbyhumansfrombirthintoadulthoodisthedesiretoexplore
a.thisisexpressedbythehumandesiretophysicallyexploreitssurroundings,
b.aswellasapredispositiontoexploretherangeandpossibilitiesofitsownmovements.
3. ProblemSolvingandCreativity
a. emergingdatafrompsychologyandneurosciencesupportswidespreadanecdotalevidence
thatexerciseencouragescreativeproblemsolving:
b.psychologistArthurJ.Deikmanhassuggestedthatanyactivitythat"deautomatizes"our
daily"ruts"ofperception,thinking,(andmovement)mayhavethiseffect.
c. anumberofanimalandhumanstudiesinneurophysiology(coveredinlaterlectures)indicate
thatexercisestimulatesandpreservesthosepartsofthebrainthatarerelated,notjustto
movement,butalsotolearning,memory,andawareness

d. thesealteredneuralstructuresleadtoalteredorenhancedmentalfunctions:
neurophysiologic,psychological,andmotor.Regularexerciseprevents"hardeningofthe
attitudes"aswellashardeningofthearteries!

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