Exercise Psychology: Theories and Motivation

• Physical inactivity and a lack of exercise are major health concerns

Motivation Recommendations

• Recommendations include shifting the decisional balance

Cognitive-Behavioral Theories

• Cognitive-behavioral theories used in exercise psychology are facing skepticism regarding their effectiveness in addressing physical inactivity epidemics
• These theories commonly assume behavioral decisions are mainly driven by rational information evaluation, neglecting the importance of affective and automatic processes

Cognitive Theories

• Framework suggests organizing them into five classes
• Belief-attitude, competence-based, control-based theories
• Emphasize imagined end states and overlook situated factors

Affective-Reflective Theory (ART)

• Dual-process theory
• Stimuli trigger automatic associations and affective valuations of exercise
• Automatic valuations are unattended assignments of positive or negative value to a stimulus
• Automatic affective valuation serves as the basis for controlled evaluation
• Reflective evaluation draws on propositions about exercise and physical inactivity
• Higher-level cognitive operations may contribute
• The automatic affective valuation connects to an action impulse, while the controlled response can result in action plans
• Explains and predicts behavior by considering how experiences, feelings, and thoughts about exercise influence someone's willingness to undergo physical strain
• Negative valuations can act as a restraining force counteracting positive cognitive motivational drives

Theory of Energetic Cost Minimization (TECM)

• Assumes biomechanically efficient behaviors have a rewarding value
• Refers to evidence on neuro-behavioral adaptations contributing to minimizing metabolic costs during movement
• Individuals adapt to optimize energy costs and minimize effort to obtain rewards
• Effort optimization is theorized as a neurobiologically anchored process
• Situational factors may incentivize or temper the tendency to reduce energetic cost
• Availability of cognitive resources can weaken this tendency
• Inclination to avoid unnecessary physical exertion is conceptualized as a restraining force
• Can hinder the ability to implement conscious intentions to be physically active

ART vs TECM

• ART relates acute affective responses to exercise and how these experiences can influence future exercise
• Focuses on minimizing unpleasant experiences or facilitating pleasant experiences during exercise
• TECM has roots in evolutionary behavioral biology
• People should be aware that this tendency exists
• Executive cognitive functioning (capacity for self-control) should be strengthened
• Psychological training could be useful to change automatic reactions

Conclusion

• The importance of situated processes has been overlooked
• Processes represent components of theoretical explanations of physical activity, exercise and physical inactivity
• Theoretical approaches, the ART and the TECM, illustrate directions toward which exercise psychology can evolve

Real-Life Interventions

• Should be delivered by well-trained instructors with expertise in tailored exercise load control
• Strengthening cognitive resources and self-control capacity can effectively counteract minimizing
• Maximize pleasure during physical activity and exercise
• Public policy should endorse open, safe and well-maintained infrastructure
• Architecture of buildings should encourage physical activity throughout the day

Explore exercise psychology theories, including cognitive-behavioral approaches and the Affective-Reflective Theory (ART). Understand motivation recommendations and the role of affective processes in exercise decisions. Examine the limitations of rational information evaluation in addressing physical inactivity.