Alleviating choking : The sounds of distraction
- Authors: Mesagno, Christopher , Marchant, Daryl , Morris, Tony
- Date: 2009
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Applied Sport Psychology Vol. 21, no. 2 (2009), p. 131-147
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- Description: Choking is defined as a critical deterioration in the execution of habitual processes as a result of an elevation in anxiety levels under perceived pressure, leading to substandard performance. In the current study, music was used in a dual-task paradigm to facilitate performance under pressure. Three choking-susceptible experienced female basketball players were purposively sampled from 41 screened players. Participants completed 240 basketball free throws in a single-case A1-B1-A2-B2 design (A phases = low-pressure and B phases = high-pressure), with the music intervention occurring during the B2 phase. Following completion of the phases, an interview was conducted to examine perceptions of choking and cognitions associated with the effects of the music lyrics. Participants improved performance in the B2 phase, and explained that choking resulted from an increase in public self-awareness (S-A). The music intervention decreased S-A, and enabled participants to minimize explicit monitoring of execution and reduce general distractibility.
Primed to perform : Comparing different pre-performance routine interventions to improve accuracy in closed, self-paced motor tasks
- Authors: Mesagno, Christopher , Beckmann, Jurgen , Wergin, Vanessa , Gröpel, Peter
- Date: 2019
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Psychology of Sport and Exercise Vol. 43, no. (2019), p. 73-81
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- Description: Objectives: Two experimental studies were conducted to test and compare whether different pre-performance routines (i.e., left-hand dynamic handgrip and an extensive routine) can improve (and potentially have a combined effect on) accuracy in closed, self-paced motor tasks. Design/method: Study 1 used a standardised laboratory task to measure motor performance, while Study 2 was a field experiment measuring tenpin bowling accuracy and in-game performance as outcome variables. Both studies consisted of a pretest phase followed by one or two test phases using a group-specific pre-performance routine (PPR), or control, condition. Results: Results of both studies indicated that the inexperienced students (Study 1) and experienced athletes (Study 2) within the intervention groups were more accurate when using the intervention than a control group (not provided an intervention). Using a combined (i.e., left-hand dynamic handgrip and extensive) PPR may not have additive performance effects. Furthermore, using a PPR intervention did not equate to better in-game performance in Study 2. Conclusions: These studies indicate that the element of left-hand dynamic handgrip as a PPR may be comparable to control groups, but further research is needed to determine if it is comparable to extensive PPR interventions that promote concentration on the task for increased performance generally (and under pressure).
Choking interventions in sports : A systematic review
- Authors: Gröpel, Peter , Mesagno, Christopher
- Date: 2019
- Type: Text , Journal article , Review
- Relation: International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology Vol. 12, no. 1 (2019), p. 176-201
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- Description: Choking under pressure describes suboptimal sport performance in stressful situations, which has led to two fundamental ‘choking’ models: distraction and self-focus. The purpose of this review was to provide an overview of empirical studies that have tested interventions used to alleviate choking. The systematic review includes 47 empirical studies published up to April 2017, including experimental, quasi-experimental, and single-case studies with athletes. These studies encompassed a variety of interventions (n = 13) that were either distraction based or self-focus based. In addition, a third group–acclimatisation interventions–was identified. The results indicate that, in general, choking interventions based on both choking models and on acclimatisation provide a benefit to performance under pressure. The most reported effective interventions were pre-performance routines, quiet eye training, left-hand contractions, and acclimatisation training. The use of dual task was beneficial for performance under pressure but harmful when used in training. Mixed evidence was found for analogy learning, and null effects were reported for goal setting, neurofeedback training, and reappraisal cues. These results may help athletes and coaches select and implement effective strategies and methods to improve performance under pressure.