Expertise, Mental Practice and Nature or Nurture
Hebb (1949) wrote that expertise “is a product of 100% nature and 100% nurture.” Interesting statement to make and fun to think about. What about the nature versus nurture argument can we use to learn about sport expertise?
Kremer et al. (2011) define sports expertise and include the physiological, technical, cognitive, and emotional domains intersecting with constant and high-quality sports performance over time. What a mouthful. Let’s break this definition down. This definition looks at how the three different concepts are at play and intersect: time, skill, and pervasiveness across several domains. Within the domains themselves, there is an intersection of different domains encompassing the nature versus nurture topic. This definition allows space for nature and nurture, as well as additional aspects like emotions and mental skills. However, there is one domain that is not addressed that may be worth considering, the spiritual domain. This thought comes from the idea that spirituality and expertise may have a connection (Can’t provide this point at the moment with research) because an athlete’s connection to a chosen sport can sometimes go beyond the mind and the body. That deep connection with the sport takes expertise to another level.
Regarding research (Yes, it is back, this research piece.), we can learn more about what may help define sports expertise. In one study utilizing multiple experiments, the researchers wanted to determine if elite team sport athletes can do better at non-sports-specific lab tasks such as visuospatial and basic cognitive tests (Heppe et al., 2016). Heppe et al. (2016) concluded that the difference could be linked to cognitive skills training that athletes learn on a team, which can be transferred to these types of tests, and at the time, concluded that differences can also be due to genetic predisposition. So here we arrive back at the nature versus nurture conversation. Other research provides an argument related to nature and nurture that suggests that deliberate practice is essential to becoming an expert but must take into account other influences such as opportunity, basic ability, personality, developmental, and genetic factors (Furley & Wood, 2016; Hambrick et al., 2016). The bottom line is that defining sports expertise is not simple but rather complicated when looking through the research lens. It may even be complex outside the research realm as well. It also opens the door to what the future holds for how different disciplines can help athletes and help them excel.
How Would You Know Sport Expertise?
So, then, how would we know expertise? If the above definition is used, then we would know by how the athlete engages in their chosen sport; bringing together the intersection of time, skill, and the domains discussed above. Watching professional dancers on stage is a good example. They move gracefully, have refined technique, and even the details are essential. For example, their toes are always pointed to the fullest extent, and the dancers make their fouettes look effortless. As someone who has a dancing background, I know the work that goes into learning fouettes, let alone the energy and effort it takes to make them look polished and effortless. It is like ballet is a piece of them; they are not merely performing the dance, but living the dance. This example could be reflective of any expert athlete in their chosen sport.
Simone Biles is an excellent example of athletic excellence of the unity of nature and nurture. Simone has a high skill level as a gymnast and a unique body type that allows her to excel (Bryan, 2019).
One More Pass at Nature versus Nurture
Now what if we consider the mitigation of nature or nurture and whether it is possible to skew more towards nature or nurture. To begin this brief discussion, it is important to define primary and secondary influences quickly. According to Baker and Horton (2004), the primary influences that directly influence developing an expert's performance are genetic, training, and psychological factors. Baker and Horton (2004) also shared that secondary influences or those factors that influence the primary are socio-cultural factors, culture, family support, contextual factors, and sports maturity. Epstein (2014) wrote an entire book exploring nature and nurture. One good example from his many interviews and travels is the basketball example of the pygmy tribe in Africa never having the height to play basketball. If a member of the tribe did decide that they wanted to play basketball and received the necessary training, their genetics would not be conducive. Additionally, while Epstein (2014) did not discuss any of the secondary factors, it could also be inferred that socio-cultural factors and culture may not be conducive. Thus if a member of the tribe was successful in basketball, it would be entirely training. This is a big ‘if’! This discussion could continue with different examples, making arguments either way if done skillfully. However, it is more important to understand the different primary and secondary influences and how that helps athletes understand the influences so they can simultaneously have realistic expectations and hope.
So is it nature or nurture that defines expertise? What do you think? Both seem to have a role to play.
A runner on the track going over a hurdle.
take action today moment:
This blog feels a lot like the chicken or the egg. Spend some time thinking about what you read. How do you understand the nature versus nurture argument? Will we ever arrive at the answer? Also consider what you can take from the different perspectives to help you succeed in your sport and life goals.
Learn More About Ironman Triathlon:
Beyond nature vs. nurture in expertise research - comment on Baker & Wattie
(Yes it is a short research article. It is interesting in that provides you with another perspective.)
References
Baker, J., & Horton, S. (2004). A review of primary and secondary influences on sport expertise. High Ability Studies, 15(2), 211-228.
Bryan, B. (2019). Simone Biles: Dominant gymnast. Cavendish Square Publishing, LLC.
Epstein, D. (2014). The sports gene: Inside the science of extraordinary athletic performance. Penguin.
Furley, P., & Wood, G. (2016). Working memory, attentional control, and expertise in sports: A review of current literature and directions for future research. Journal of Applied Research in Memory and Cognition, 5(4), 415-425.
Hambrick, D. Z., Macnamara, B. N., Campitelli, G., Ullénjj, F., & Mosingjj, M. A. (2016): Beyond born versus made: A new look at expertise. Psychology of Learning and Motivation, 64, 1–55. doi: 10.1016/bs.plm.2015.09.001
Heppe, H., Kohler, A., Fleddermann, M. T., & Zentgraf, K. (2016). The relationship between expertise in sports, visuospatial, and basic cognitive skills. Frontiers in Psychology, 7, 904. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00904
Kremer, J., Moran, A., Walker, G., & Craig, C. (2011). Key concepts in sport psychology. Sage.