Rudolf Laban’s use of movement-based observational techniques anticipated the notion of “embodied cognition” by several decades. In his writings in the 1940s and 50s, Laban already had identified “mental efforts” — namely those of giving attention to what must be done, forming an intention to act, and finally taking decisive action — as stages of “inner preparation for outer action.”
Laban went on to associate each of these mental efforts to one of the motion factors, according to the following scheme:
“The motion factor of Space can be associated with man’s faculty of participation with attention. The predominant tendency here is to orientate oneself and find a relationship to the matter of interest either in an immediate, direct way or in a circumspective, flexible one.”
“The motion factor of Weight can be associated with man’s faculty of participation with intention. The desire to do a certain thing may take hold of one sometimes powerfully and firmly, sometimes gently and slightly.”
“ The motion factor of Time can be associated with man’s faculty of participation with decision. Decisions can be made either unexpectedly and suddenly … or they may be developed gradually.”
Building on Laban’s correlations, Warren Lamb extended and refined the linking of movement factors with mental processes. Find out more in the next blog.