Thinking about choking? Attentional processes and paradoxical performance

被引:210
作者
Lewis, BP [1 ]
Linder, DE [1 ]
机构
[1] ARIZONA STATE UNIV, TEMPE, AZ 85287 USA
关键词
D O I
10.1177/0146167297239003
中图分类号
B84 [心理学];
学科分类号
04 ; 0402 ;
摘要
When pressure to perform is increased, individuals commonly perform worse than if there were no pressure (''choking under pressure''). Two mechanisms have been proposed to account for this effect-distraction (cognitive load), wherein pressure distracts attention from the task, and self-focus, wherein attention shifts inward interfering with performance. To distinguish between these two competing explanations the current experiment manipulated pressure by offering performance-contingent rewards. For half the participants, cognitive load was increased by requiring participants to count backward from 100. Additionally, adaptation to self-awareness was manipulated by videotaping half the participants during practice trials. Results show that pressure caused choking when participants were not distracted and had not been adapted to self-awareness. This effect was attenuated when. cognitive load was increased or when self-awareness adaptation had occurred. These results support self-focus mediated misregulation as the mechanism for choking and disconfirm the distraction hypothesis.
引用
收藏
页码:937 / 944
页数:8
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