Understanding Psychomotor Development and Body Awareness in Education
Psychomotor Content
- Knowledge of one’s body: Laterality and body schema, becoming independent and inter-muscular.
- Motor coordination: Visual-motor and overall dynamics.
- Spatial perception: Body-space.
- Temporal space perception: Rhythm.
- Body Expression.
Three French-Born Pioneers in Physical Education
- J. Le Boulch’s model or “psychokinetics”
- Body education by L. Picq and P. Vayer
- Education experienced through A. Lapierre and B. Aucouturier
Aspects to Consider When Applying Body Language Techniques
- Will of expression: It is essential to try to express something that the person has chosen. Factors influencing the will to speak are age, environment, and socio-cultural level.
- Using the body as a medium of expression: Pursuit of communication.
Understanding the Concept of “Body”
The word “body” refers to the whole person, encompassing not only their physical reality but also their psychological reality. We must ultimately embrace the concept of the body, including arms, legs, senses, emotions, and thoughts, as integral parts of a unified whole.
Educational Trends
Traditional School
Aims to achieve a “body taught,” a term coined by Daniel Denis. This refers to the body being shaped within the school environment to conform to societal expectations, often at the expense of originality, individuality, and personal freedom.
Renewed Trends
The goals are centered around integration: fostering an integrated body consciousness, connected to the self and the environment.
Different Concepts of the Body
Anatomical Body
A complex mechanical system comprising bony elements articulated with each other and moved by muscle power. The primary aim of educating the body in this context is to perfect this tool, increasing muscle strength and range of motion.
Neurological Body
The muscle is seen as the enforcement agent of neurological impulses, with these impulses directing and controlling muscle contraction.
Psychological Body
Referred to as the “sensorimotor” and “perceptual-motor” body (Lapierre, 1989). The body becomes a center of feeling, with the addition of the kinesthetic sense to the five senses of classical psychology. The body is perceived from within, gradually organizing and structuring itself in relation to its axis.
Lived Body
Through the body, we experience a range of relationships and emotions, all linked to involuntary tonic muscular tension. Dynamic contraction allows us to act in the world, while tonic contraction allows us to feel the world.
Existential Body
The body transforms into an “object” that belongs to us but is presented to others and conforms to cultural demands.
Body as a Means of Expression and Communication
The living body is always inhabited by the psyche. Movement reflects mental attitude. The body serves as the most authentic and profound means of communication.
Types of Desires Expressed Through the Body
- Desires tied to emotions and emotional stress, expressed through behavior.
- Desires that appear more rational, driven by intellectual motivations.