395 – Key Principles of the Ecological Approach to Skill

The podcast discusses the key principles of the ecological approach to skill, including performer environment symmetry, direct perception of affordances, information movement coupling, self organization with respect to constraints, repetition without repetition, and direct learning through experience. It challenges the idea that skill is solely internal to the performer and emphasizes the interconnectedness of performer and environment in skill acquisition. The concept of direct perception is explored, highlighting how our senses can provide us with the necessary information to control our actions without the need for interpretation or computation. The rich information available in the environment is discussed, along with the concept of information movement coupling. The role of predictions in motor programs and the benefits of training with an ecological approach are also explored.