Language gets in the way of explaining what is actually happening in our world. It applies in life and in health and fitness.
What are explanatory fictions?
EXPLANATORY FICTIONS – sometimes referred to as mentalisms – are attempts to explain our health and fitness behavior, but really explain nothing at all.
Example:
“Marcus is lazy and unmotivated because he sits on the couch all day”
Better way to explain behavior:
“When Marcus watches Netflix for more than 1 hour, he is less likely to exercise that day.”
Sometimes explanatory fictions looks like adjectives…
- Aggressive,
- Lazy
- Egotistical
- A “natural”
- Dedicated
- Amazing
- Beyond belief
- Unmotivated
Or euphemisms…
- “She has what it takes”
- “He knows how to perform in the pain cave”
- “They have a winning mentality.”
…the list goes on and on
How do we move away from these terms instead?
When we look to the environment to explain our behavior, we have a better sense of how to improve and get better
