Internal Focus and External Focus
Context
This is about learning and how to develop new skills
What is it
Internal focus
- You focus on your own body. You think about where my feet should be poistioned
- or where my hand should be
External focus
- the intended effect
- You focus on some external goal
A quote from William James
Keep your eye at the place aimed at, and your hand will fetch; think of your hand, you will likely miss your aim.”
The finding here is that external focus works well for skill acquisition and performance.
Why is it important
See Also
Inner Game of Tennis Self 2 Visualizing an Outcome
Source: page 186 Source: Motor Control and Learning: A Behavioral Emphasis by: Gabriele Wulf