How to stay calm under pressure - Noa Kageyama and Pen-Pen Chen

TED-Ed

This animated video explores the psychological phenomenon of "choking" under pressure—failing to perform a mastered skill when it matters most. It examines why highly skilled individuals, from Olympic athletes to spelling bee champions, sometimes falter despite months or years of preparation. The video breaks down the science behind performance anxiety, distinguishing between common nervousness and the specific mental blocks that interfere with execution. The content delves into two primary theories explaining why choking happens: Distraction Theories and Explicit Monitoring Theories. It explains how high-pressure situations can overload "working memory," impacting cognitive tasks, or cause individuals to overthink automatic physical movements, disrupting muscle memory. The narrative uses accessible analogies and cites psychological studies involving math students and golfers to illustrate these concepts. For educators, this video is an excellent resource for Social-Emotional Learning (SEL), psychology, public speaking, and physical education. It offers practical, evidence-based strategies for students to manage anxiety, such as practicing under simulated pressure, developing pre-performance rituals, and shifting focus from internal mechanics to external goals. These tools are directly applicable to test-taking, sports, and classroom presentations.