Physical Constraints, in vocational psychology dictionary

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Dictionary of Vocational Psychology

Physical Constraints

Many talent fields have formal or informal physical constraints on who is able to achieve elite levels of performance. Military forces normally require recruits to pass at least minimum levels of fitness, height, eyesight, and so on, and for some characteristics recruits must fall within a range (e.g., height, weight), and this range may depend on the recruit's sex.

Elite athletes likewise encounter a winnowing based on physical characteristics, although in most cases such constraints are informal and based on competitive pressures rather than being formally mandated by rules. For example, there is no height requirement among basketball players in the National Basketball League, but most players are over six feet tall, and most are substantially taller than that. Some athletes, such as jockeys and female gymnasts, are substantially shorter weigh less than the average for their sex. Some occupations require high visual acuity (e.g., air force fighter pilot, sniper), while others generally (but not always) demand good looks (e.g., model).

These constraints are primarily physical, although characteristics such as being attractive are also related to willful intent. The point is that one either has such physical qualities, or falls within the acceptable physical range required of the activity, or one does not. Neither will nor practice will change such factors, at least in most cases.

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