ABSTRACT

Interpersonal coordination is an important feature of all social systems. From everyday activities to playing sport and participating in the performing arts, human behaviour is constrained by the need to continually interact with others. This book examines how interpersonal coordination tendencies in social systems emerge, across a range of contexts and at different scales, with the aim of helping practitioners to understand collective behaviours and create learning environments to improve performance.

Showcasing the latest research from scientists and academics, this collection of studies examines how and why interpersonal coordination is crucial for success in sport and the performing arts. It explains the complex science of interpersonal coordination in relation to a variety of activities including competitive team sports, outdoor sports, racket sports, and martial arts, as well as dance. Divided into four sections, this book offers insight into:

  • the nature, history and key concepts of interpersonal coordination
  • factors that influence interpersonal coordination within social systems
  • interpersonal coordination in competitive and cooperative performance contexts
  • methods, tools and devices for improving performance through interpersonal coordination.

This book will provide fascinating insights for students, researchers and educators interested in movement science, performance analysis, sport science and psychology, as well as for those working in the performing arts.

chapter 1|14 pages

Interpersonal coordination in biological systems

The emergence of collective locomotion

chapter 3|21 pages

The nature of interpersonal coordination

Why do people coordinate with others?

chapter 4|12 pages

The ties that bind

Unintentional spontaneous synchrony in social interactions

chapter 10|14 pages

Crew rowing

An archetype of interpersonal coordination dynamics

part 19|31 pages

Factors that influence interpersonal coordination

part 22|63 pages

Methods, tools and devices

chapter 19|17 pages

Measuring interpersonal coordination

A selection of modern analysis techniques

chapter 22|15 pages

Interpersonal coordination tendencies in competitive sport performance

Issues and trends for future research