Abstract:

(E)motion is an experiential programme based on physical activities and creative dance. Dance and movement bring fun, playfulness, intense perception as well as music interpretation and aesthetic experience. The activities used allow participants to experience different levels of emotion in varying intensities. The blending of individual, pair and group activities develops participants' social skills, self-knowledge and self-confidence and improves their subjective well-being. An important goal of our program is to guide participants to better connect with their bodies in terms of embodiment. Embodiment is a form of experiencing and understanding the world through the body in lived experiences (Piran, Teall, & Counsell, 2020). The embodiment is part of the self and arises through the processing of multisensory information (Roth & Latoschik, 2020). The aim of our research was to examine changes in the overall embodiment of (E)motion participants and changes in the individual embodiment factors according to the embodiment model of Piran, Teall & Counsell. The research had a quasi-experimental design. The research sample consisted of a total of 88 Slovak university students with an average age of 21.42 years who completed the (E)motion program in two blocks, for a total of 12 class periods. We used the EES scale The experience of embodiment (Piran, Teall and Counsell, 2020) adapted for the Slovak population. Embodiment contains 6 factors: Positive body connection and comfort, Body Un-encumbered Adjustment, Agency and functionality, Experience and Expression of Sexual Desire, Attuned self-care, Resisting objectification.

The calculation of the internal consistency of this method showed good reliability of the embodiment factors (α=0.70-0.80). The total embodiment score increased from a mean of 121.15 to 123.03 (maximum score =170) after the implementation of the program; however, the result is not statistically significant. Measurements of the embodiment factors before and after the implementation of the (E)motion program showed statistically significant differences in the variables Positive Body Connection and Comfort (participants showed an increase after the program), Body Un-encumbered Adjustment and Agency and Functionality (participants showed a decrease after the program). The results are discussed in the context of the conditions for programme implementation and next steps to streamline programme content.

Keywords:

Embodiment, university students, program (E)motion.