Under Pressure Slides
Under Pressure
Cognitive Mechanics of "Choking" in Performance
Intro to Psychology Cognitive Domain
Today's Objectives
Theoretical Analysis
Compare Distraction Theory vs. Explicit Monitoring Theory in the context of skill failure.
Experimental Design
Develop a methodology to test the validity of Explicit Monitoring Theory using non-athletic tasks.
Ethics Review
Evaluate the ethical implications of inducing acute stress in human research subjects.
5-Minute Quick Write
In your own words, define and differentiate the following memory systems:
Type A
Procedural Memory
"How-to" knowledge
Type B
Declarative Memory
"Facts and Events" knowledge
Case Study: The Choke
How to stay calm under pressure - TED-Ed
04:29
Embedded media
Theory 1: Distraction
Core Mechanism
Performance suffers because the mind is preoccupied with worries or fears, competing for limited Working Memory resources.
Key Concept
Working Memory: The "mental scratchpad" used to store and process information.
Resource Competition
Task Info vs. Anxiety Signals
Theory 2: Explicit Monitoring
"Over-Analysis"
Conscious attention to subconscious mechanics
Core Mechanism
Pressure causes people to over-analyze the mechanics of a skill that has already become automatic.
"Once a skill becomes automatic, thinking about its precise mechanics interferes with your ability to do it."
Group Design Challenge
The Mission:
Design a psychological experiment to test Explicit Monitoring Theory using a non-athletic task.
Typing Speed
Video Gaming
Musical Scale
Check your "Pressure Proof Activity" sheet for guidelines.
Closure: The Ethics of Stress
Discussion Prompt
Is it ethically justifiable to intentionally induce high stress (anxiety, fear of judgment) in research subjects to study performance?
Consider
- Informed Consent
- Minimization of Harm
Debrief
- Psychological Aftercare
- Scientific Utility vs. Risk
Pressure Proof Activity
Pressure Proof Design
Testing Explicit Monitoring Theory in the Lab
Psychology 101: Research Methods
Lab Assignment #04
Lead Researcher Names
Section/Date
The Experimental Mission
Your team must design an experiment that tests the validity of Explicit Monitoring Theory (EMT). According to EMT, "choking" occurs when pressure prompts a performer to consciously monitor a skill that has already become automated (proceduralized). For this design, you cannot use a sport-related task.
Step 1: Task Selection & Hypothesis
Select a non-sport, automated skill (e.g., typing, gaming, playing scales):
Hypothesis (If/Then statement regarding EMT):
Step 2: Operationalizing Variables
Independent Variable (Pressure Induction)
How will you induce "pressure" or "explicit monitoring" in your subjects?
Dependent Variable (Performance Metric)
How will you measure failure/success quantitatively?
Participant Groups
Experimental Group Condition
Control Group Condition
Step 3: Experimental Procedure
Briefly list the chronological steps for your experiment, from participant arrival to debriefing.
1
2
3
4
5
Step 4: Ethics & Limitations
Ethical Safeguards
How will you ensure participant well-being despite induced pressure?
Potential Confounding Variables
What factors (other than pressure) might impact performance results?
Final Pitch Preparation
Prepare a 90-second pitch for the class. Your pitch must clearly state:
- The non-sport skill chosen
- How pressure is induced
- Why this tests EMT, specifically
- Your expected outcome
