Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 23, 2026

Reducing State Anxiety Using Working Memory Maintenance
Published on: July 19, 2017
Effects of anxiety on handgun shooting behavior of police officers: a pilot study
Arne Nieuwenhuys1, Raôul R D Oudejans
1Research Institute MOVE, Faculty of Human Movement Sciences, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. a.nieuwenhuys@fbw.vu.nl
Abstract:
The current pilot study aimed at providing an initial assessment of how anxiety influences police officers' shooting behavior. Seven police officers participated and completed an identical shooting exercise under two experimental conditions: low anxiety, against a non-threatening opponent, and high anxiety (HA), against a threatening opponent who occasionally shot back using colored soap cartridges. Measurements included shooting accuracy, movement times, head/body orientation, and blink behavior. Results showed that under HA, shooting accuracy decreased. Underlying this degradation of performance, participants acted faster and made themselves smaller to reduce the chance of being hit. Furthermore, they blinked more often, leading to increases in the amount of time participants had their eyes closed. Findings provide support for attentional control theory, hereby also pointing to possible interventions to improve police officers' shooting performance under pressure.
Related Concept Videos
Panic Disorder
Anxiety: Overview
Individuals with anxiety often experience a range of physical and emotional symptoms, including sweating, trembling, tachycardia, and disturbances in sleep patterns. These symptoms vary in intensity and frequency but are generally disruptive and distressing.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Stress and Mental Health
Individuals with depression often experience challenges in both their personal and professional...
Anxiolytic Drugs: Overview
Primary Types of Anxiolytic Drugs
1. Benzodiazepines:
Benzodiazepines bind to the GABA-A receptor in the brain, enhancing GABA's interaction. This action reduces neurotransmission, effectively blocking anxiety-associated limbic circuitry.
Introduction to Stress and Lifestyle
