Social effects on performance: Mathew, Pygmalion, Galatea, and Relative Age effect

Elaborating on his co-authored( with David J Hancock and Ashley L Adler) paper, “A proposed theoretical model to explain relative age effects in sport”, Jean Côté argues that social agents have the largest influence on relative age effects.

According to the paper, primary agents like parents influence relative age effects through Matthew effects. Coaches influence relative age effects through Pygmalion effects and athletes influence relative age effects through Galatea effects.

Integrating these three theories(Mathew, Pygmalion, Galatea), the authors propose a model that explains RAEs through these various social agents.

Attached are two videos;

  1. From Jean Côté explaining the paper on RAE
  2. Short video in which Professor Anders Ericsson independently confirms Mathew effects showing example from Mozart.

Video 1

Uk coaching interview link

Video 2

Mozart’s father was a famous music teacher and had written one of the first books on violin instruction. He tested many pioneering training methods on Mozart and his sister, according to Professor Anders Ericsson. (HBR Article)

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