Final answer:
Self-regulation is the process of goal identification and attainment using feedback, essential to individual development. Sports offer a platform for young people to enhance self-regulation, aligning it with identity formation and achieving a sense of self through managing societal norms and responsibilities.
Step-by-step explanation:
Functions of Self-Regulation in Development
Self-regulation plays a crucial role in individual development. According to Lecci & Magnavita, self-regulation is the process of identifying goals and using both internal and external feedback to maximize goal attainment. For example, the ability to delay gratification is a key aspect of self-regulation. Mischel's marshmallow test is a classic example that illustrates how the capacity to forego a smaller reward now can lead to a larger reward later, a foundational aspect of willpower.
In the context of sports, self-regulation contributes to a form of performance by allowing individuals to set and pursue performance-related goals. For young people, sports provide an avenue to develop and improve self-regulation, altering their perception of the systems they navigate and shaping the goals they set for themselves.
The development of self-regulation is also interlinked with societal norms and responsibilities as a group member. An individual's sense of freedom in a group and their ability to maintain a balance between conforming to group norms and preserving individuality contribute to the development of self-regulation. During the game stage of development, children learn to comprehend multiple roles and the responsibilities that come with them, preparing them for the challenges of adolescence where they explore their identity and develop a strong sense of self.
Understanding the psychological and sociological theories of self-development, as well as the processes of moral development, are important elements in grasping the complexity of self-regulation and its functions in identity formation and goal setting.