Alex

How do athletes experience pressure in high-stakes competitive athletic situations, and how can their strategies affect their performance outcomes?

 

Pressure manifests itself as the anticipation of failure or success in an athlete's mind and is intensified by external factors such as the importance of the event, expectations, and rewards. By considering these factors, known as cognitive appraisal, athletes determine whether the situation is a challenge or a threat. Challenge states can enhance performance, whereas threat states lead to performance decrements under pressure. When pressure is managed effectively, it leads to peak performance. Performance under pressure is an interaction among biological and psychological factors, in coordination with cognition and environmental contexts. To combat the effects of pressure, athletes can use self-talk, meditation, and journaling to prepare for high-stakes situations, thereby avoiding performance decrements and achieving their highest potential. 

 

This presentation examines why athletes choke under pressure in high-stakes situations and what they can do in order to avoid it. 

WATCH HERE