Choking under pressure (Performance decrement under pressure), is a situation where an individual, under high expectation, stress, or reward pressure, fails to utilize skills they would normally be able to display. This phenomenon appears in many fields, from athletes to performing artists, surgeons to pilots, and is characterized by a dramatic decrease in performance at the moment of need. Although the individual's competence is intact, their inability to use their skills under psychological pressure is associated with the dysfunction of cognitive resources.

Theoretical Foundations and Cognitive Models

Self-Awareness and Explicit Monitoring Theories

Baumeister (1984) and Beilock & Carr (2001) suggest that bringing automatic skills under conscious control during pressure leads to performance degradation. According to these theories:

Automated behaviors are disrupted by conscious attention.
The person draws their attention inward from the external environment with internal monologues like "will I succeed?".
Consequently, a loss of coordination occurs in the motor control system.

Distraction Theory

Eysenck and Calvo (1992) argue that anxiety depletes working memory resources, which leads to performance decline in complex tasks.

Yerkes-Dodson Law

This law states that there is an inverted U-shaped relationship between arousal level and performance. Pressure exceeding the optimal arousal level causes a decrease in performance — this is the classic curve explaining the choking phenomenon.

Neuropsychological Mechanisms

Overactivation of the Prefrontal Cortex

fMRI studies have observed that the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex becomes overactive under pressure. This region represents conscious control and interferes with automatic processes by conflicting with motor regions.

Error Monitoring Mechanism and ACC

The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) is involved in the error monitoring process, and sensitivity to errors increases under pressure. This further undermines the individual's self-confidence and degrades performance.

Amygdala Activation and Stress Response

The amygdala, activated by stress, triggers cortisol release. This hormone negatively affects working memory and attentional stability.

Experimental Findings and Application Paradigms

Dual-task paradigm: Measures performance under cognitive load.
Time-pressured tasks: Reveal athletes' loss of precision under pressure.
Eye-tracking and EEG measurements: Cognitive resource allocation is analyzed.
Pupil dilation and heart rate: Used as psychophysiological stress markers.

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Individual Differences and Sensitivity Factors

Individuals with high anxiety levels experience faster performance loss under pressure.
Individuals with a high self-monitoring tendency experience greater performance decrement under social evaluation.
Individuals with high working memory capacity are more resilient to this condition.

Environmental Effects and Contextual Factors

Audience effect: The feeling of being watched increases self-awareness.
Reward and expectation pressure: Perceptions regarding the outcomes of performance trigger anxiety.
Social stereotype threats: Stereotypes targeting minority groups can increase cognitive impairment.

Intervention and Prevention Methods

Directing Attention to an External Focus: Directing the individual's attention to the environment rather than their body (e.g., focusing on the target instead of the ball) improves performance.

Training with High-Pressure Simulations: Repeated simulation of pressure conditions reduces the effect of anxiety.

Mindfulness and Cognitive Distraction Reduction: Mindfulness techniques enhance attention control without getting caught up in automatic thoughts.

Pre-Performance Routines (PPRs): Fixed pre-event rituals provide mental balance and buffer the effects of stress.

Academic and Practical Implications

In sports science, coaches develop mental preparation programs appropriate for performance decrement mechanisms.
In surgical training, the focus is on instant decision-making processes in critical tasks.
In exam systems, environment design that balances high pressure can be implemented.
In military simulations, attention distraction under threat can be trained.