What is CrossFit? What is behavior analysis? You may be familiar with one, none, or both. By now, you may be asking yourself: what does science have to do with CrossFit? Or, how is behavioral science related to CrossFit?
You may be a CrossFitter that has never heard of behavioral science, a behavior analyst hesitant about joining CrossFit, or some variation in between. I will highlight the commonalities between the two and give a little of my backstory with both worlds. This article is not a plug for CrossFit or to get you to drink the behavior analytic kool-aid, but a humble observation of how my two passions gel with each other. If anything, this blog is a brief introduction to each.
To make sure we are on the same page, let’s first review the definitions of each…
From CrossFit.com:
CrossFit is constantly varied functional movements performed at high intensity.
Behavior analysis is (my own wording; based on 8 years of clinical and academic experience):
The science of human behavior, a science that teaches us how to solve socially meaningful* problems.
*Important targets like teaching people how to talk, improving job safety, or getting people to quit smoking.
When I started CrossFit (going on 3+ years now), it was new and challenging. However, the transition into CrossFit was quick and seamless because I recognized how its scientific background overlapped with my other passion, behavior analysis. This article may be long overdue but these core principles have always existed.
Here are 3 core principles that CrossFit and behavioral science share:
Core Principle 1 – Emphasis on Function
Function is the most important aspect for both CrossFit and behavior analysis.
In CrossFit, the prescription for workouts is “constantly varied, high intensity, functional [italics added] movement.”
Functional movements are the core movements of life. They are they actions that you need to perform to get by every day without the help of others. To name a few, these include:
- Standing up
- Picking something up off the ground
- Getting up off the ground
- Reaching above your head to grab something from a shelf
- Pulling yourself up over an object,
- Carrying something for a certain distance
- …actions that have a purpose.
For each of these core movements, comes a matched exercise. To get better at picking things off of the ground you may need to work on movements like deadlifts and squats.
These functional movements are in contrast to non-functional movements like bicep curls and calf raises. Sure, these exercises may add to your overall strength in some way, but it is doubtful that your daily activities require you to perform a bicep curl. This is the distinction between functional and non-functional movements. Non-functional movements have their place in training but are beyond this discussion.
In behavior analysis, function is at the center of its science. Behavior analysts want to figure out why certain things happen in the world around us. Explanations often come in a friendly “If, then” package.
If I fly a certain airline, then I have a great experience.
If I yell this loud at a bar, only then will the bartender hear my order.
If I smile in an interview, then my conversations are likely to be well received.
At the core of solving socially important problems, is understanding what things (or variables) happening in the world around us make up these “If, then” statements.
Although function is used differently for CrossFit and behavior analysis, it is a core principle for each.
Core Principle 2 – Emphasis on data collection
Greg Glassman, the founder of CrossFit, describes CrossFit as “evidence-based fitness.” The exercises in CrossFit must be “observable, measurable, [and] repeatable.” When I first heard that phrase, I thought I was in science class for a minute!
You have to be able to OBSERVE the exercise or movement, MEASURE it in some way (see below), and be able to REPEAT the movement. If any of these three pieces are missing, then it cannot be part of “evidence-based fitness.”
CrossFit takes data collection seriously and it is evident after attending one class or watching The CrossFit Games.
Workouts and progress are often measured in the following ways:
- Time-Based – how long it takes to complete a workout
- Heaviest Load – who can lift the most weight (maximum weight on a back squat)
- Most Repetitions – who can do the most work in a certain time (often called AMRAPs – as many reps as possible)
Behavior analysis relies heavily on data collection and an evidence-based approach.
The observable characteristic of behavior is first and for most, the key to any behavior change. Behavior must be observable for it to be studied. If you cannot observe a behavior (boarding an airplane, ordering at a bar, smiling), then you cannot measure it. Choosing observable behavior is the hallmark of behavior analysis when compared to the psychological sciences.
After choosing what you want to observe, then measurement follows a similar pattern as in CrossFit. You can measure behavior as a:
- Duration – exactly like time-based; example – how long meal service is on a flight
- Magnitude – similar to heaviest load; example – measuring the decibel level of your order at a bar
- Frequency or Rate – similar to repetitions; example – counting the number of positive social statements in an interview
In any science, repeatable measures are just as important as the observable and measurable characteristics. Behavioral science is unique in that it measures behavior…a lot.
What is most familiar is the idea of taking a baseline measure, implementing a solution, and measuring again. Without this repeated measure, we cannot know if our solution was responsible for the improvement or not. This principle guides the daily activity of any behavior analyst.
Core Principle 3 – Emphasis on Skill Development and Independence
The CrossFit methodology is unique in the respect that it has a standardized coaching certification program. In these programs, coaches are taught the fundamental functional movements and how to break each down. Movements are complex (clean and jerk) and literally have many moving parts.
Any good coach will spot movement deficiencies, break the weak links down, and provide certain workout progressions specific to that movement for that individual athlete.
For example, an athlete may lack the proper form to deadlift, but learns key positions (shins close to the bar, flat back). Then, the athlete practices each skill (weak link) without any weight on the bar or maybe without a bar altogether. Over time, the athlete will put these fundamental units together, get stronger and move properly without the coaches help.
In behavior analysis, a common phrase heard is that you “want to work yourself out of job.” The idea is that you want to identify a problem, teach any skill deficits, and train the individual until he or she no longer needs any prompts, cues, or feedback from the behavior analyst.
…not the best for long-term job security, but let’s take a look at an example…
An individual may have difficulty performing well in an interview and landing a job. A behavior analyst may break down the skills into:
- Preparing for the interview (reviewing company information)
- Interpersonal skills (smiling, nodding), and
- Question-asking (asking relevant questions during the interview)
These steps are similar to teaching different parts of a CrossFit movement. Make weak links stronger, then put them together.
Next, the behavior analyst will work on each of these interview skills units until each is mastered. Each skill is then pieced together, leading up to a mock interview. Over time, the individual becomes independent, and most importantly, successful during interviews.
In review…
I have described 3 core principles that CrossFit and behavior analysis share:
Core Principle 1 – Emphasis on Function
Core Principle 2 – Emphasis on Data Collection
Core Principle 3 – Emphasis on Skill Development and Independence
Although CrossFit and behavior analysis are clearly different industries they share similar (scientifically-oriented) principles.
If you have questions after reading this article about either CrossFit or behavior analysis, then please ask!
Keep moving my friends…
-Nick
REFERENCES
CrossFit (2017). What is CrossFit?
Glassman, G. (2007). Understanding CrossFit.
