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Thinking about Choking? Attentional Processes and Paradoxical Performance.

Brian P Lewis1, Darwyn E Linder2

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This summary is machine-generated.

High pressure can impair performance, a phenomenon known as choking under pressure. This study found that self-focus, not distraction, primarily causes choking, especially when individuals are not accustomed to self-awareness.

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Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Cognitive Science
  • Behavioral Science

Background:

  • Performance pressure often leads to decreased performance, termed 'choking under pressure'.
  • Two primary theories explain this: distraction (cognitive load) and self-focus.
  • Distinguishing between these mechanisms is crucial for understanding performance decrements.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To differentiate between the distraction and self-focus hypotheses of choking under pressure.
  • To investigate the roles of cognitive load and self-awareness adaptation in mitigating choking.
  • To provide empirical evidence for the underlying mechanism of performance impairment under pressure.

Main Methods:

  • A controlled experiment was conducted manipulating pressure using performance-contingent rewards.
  • Cognitive load was increased for a subset of participants by requiring backward counting.
  • Adaptation to self-awareness was manipulated by videotaping participants during practice trials.

Main Results:

  • Choking under pressure was observed when participants experienced pressure without increased cognitive load and without prior adaptation to self-awareness.
  • The negative impact of pressure on performance was reduced when cognitive load was high.
  • Performance decrements were also attenuated when participants had undergone adaptation to self-awareness.

Conclusions:

  • The findings support the self-focus mediated misregulation theory as the primary cause of choking under pressure.
  • The distraction hypothesis was disconfirmed by the experimental results.
  • Interventions aimed at reducing self-focus or increasing cognitive load may help prevent choking under pressure.