RHYTHMICITY AND PREPERFORMANCE RITUAL - STABILIZING A FLEXIBLE SYSTEM

The purpose of this study was to determine: (a) if preperformance beha viors display a consistent rhythm across disparate activities; and (b) the relationship of periodicity for such preperformance routines to s uccessful performance. Seven male volunteers were subjects for this st udy. Each subject had an established ritual for golf putt, basketball free throw, and tennis serve. Data were collected with a motion-analys is system and video camera while the subjects performed each activity. Dependent measures were types of preperformance behaviors, absolute t iming of behaviors, relative timing of behaviors, differences in relat ive times across activities, and successful performance, and mechanica l variables related to performance. Analysis of variance (Subject x Ac tivity) indicated significant main effects and interactions for absolu te and relative timing of behaviors. Significant correlations were det ermined to exist between relative time and success, and differences we re found between relative times across activity and successful perform ance. It was concluded that rituals result from endogenous rhythms and that stable periodicity of behaviors across activities promotes succe ssful performance.