The main point of the research is that pushing outside our relative comfort zone does not create a suitable platform for learning or change to take place. This is backed up by other research such as Davis – Berman & Berman (2002) and Vella (2002) who both comment on the need for people to feel safe, have trust and accepted for effective learning to take place.
More recent research also supports this such as Plumber (2009) states the need for familiarity and comfort for personal growth and Joseph O’Connor & Andrea Lages (2004) emphasis on the need for trust in a coaching relationship.
As practitioners we need to consider these findings but at the same time understand that our programmes and approach need to be created and developed around individuals. This humanistic approach centres on personal goals and aspirations. Within a group this can be diverse and there is a need for the facilitator to take this into consideration.
Within my area of delivery, clients want to be taken into what is perceived to be of a higher risk area, this type of exposure is necessary for some individuals.
Wriesberg (1994) examines optimal arousal levels and the need to take into account three factors, the person, task and environment. Optimal levels are individually unique and some performers require this to be high whilst others low.
The important factor is that all individuals have specific ways they prefer to learn and develop. The need for us as practitioners is to recognise this and create suitable programmes based around individuals. Maybe as outlined in Browns (2008) research we need to avoid front loading and feeding the individual with comfort zone concepts and use this model at the end to promote understanding and acceptance.
References:
Brown, M (2008) Comfort zones: Australian Journal of Outdoor Education.
Davis-Berman, J., & Berman, D. (2002) Risk and anxiety in adventure programming: Journal of Experiential Education.
O’Connor, J & Lages, A (2004) Coaching with NLP: Harper Collins Publishers Limited.
Plummer, R (2009) Outdoor Recreation: An Introduction: Routledge.
Schmidt, R & Wriesberg, C (1994) Motor Learning & Performance: Human Kinetics.
Vella, J. (2002). Learning to listen, learning to teach: Jossey-Bass.
