Unifying rules for simplified information processing during actions – less is more

This article seeks to integrate two concepts, motor heuristics (Raab, 2017. Motor heuristics and embodied choices: How to choose and act. Current Opinion in Psychology, 16, 34–37) and movement analogies (Masters, 2000. Theoretical aspects of implicit learning in sport. International Journal of Sport Psychology, 31(4), 530–541), into a new theory: the Theory of Simplified Information Processing during Actions. Following the two-step theory integration programme proposed by Gigerenzer (2017. A theory integration program. Decision, 4(3), 133–145), we first describe the commonalities and differences between empirical phenomena associated with motor heuristics and movement analogies, and then analyse how the two concepts produce functionally equivalent outcomes. Both motor heuristics and movement analogies try to explain how actions can be performed with minimal cognitive effort, especially in circumstances where information overload may occur. They emphasise the power of simplicity, postulating that “less-is-more” when it comes to the information that needs to be processed to enable successful sports performance. The functionally equivalent outcome of simplified information processing is achieved by different cognitive means: Motor heuristics simplify movement selection by rank ordering information, whereas movement analogies are thought to simplify movement execution by chunking information. Empirically testing the predictions and assumed mechanisms of the Theory of Simplified Information Processing during Actions will improve our understanding of how humans effectively select and execute movements in situations in which information processing demands are high. Understanding how information is efficiently processed to guide actions will allow practitioners to develop effective evidence-based interventions that help to stabilise and improve performance in demanding sports settings.