Feedback

Feedback, as used in psychology, is a mechanism to provides someone with information or reactions about their thinking, emotions, or behavior toward guiding/ enhancing future actions. Feedback is a critical tool for learning, motivation, and behavior modification, bridging past actions with future improvements. Psychologically effective feedback should be: specific (precise areas for improvement, not vague generalities), timely (after action to ensure it’s relevant and actionable), constructive (to inspire improvement and foster a growth mindset), and evidence-based (directly observable rather than subjective opinion). Types:

• Information feedback to inform about their correctness, physical effect, or social/emotional impact
• Intrinsic feedback from within (personal reflection, physical sensation of movement).
• Extrinsic feedback from external sources (a coach, teacher, or test score).
• Positive feedback reinforces desired behavior, increases motivation and repeat actions.
• Negative (corrective) feedback identifies mistakes/areas for improvement to decrease undesirable behavior.