[Choking under pressure: Positive public expectations and performance in a motor task]

Abstract

According to Baumeister (e.g. 1985) "choking under pressure" means showing a suboptimal performance when under pressure, despite a high motivation to perform well. Factors that can exert pressure on performers ("pressure variables") include competition, the reward to be gained, the expectation of negative consequences, the presence of spectators etc. However, "choking" can also occur when public expectations (e.g., of the audience) are positive. Baumeister et al. (1985) showed this in two experiments. In the present study an experimental design (a 2 x 2 design) was developed to examine this question in a sport context. Under various conditions of public expectations ("positive" vs "no") and private expectations ("positive" vs "negative"), 60 university students repeatedly had to do a motor task on a rowing ergometer. The main results were: When the public expects success, but not the performing person, then the level of performance decreases. Under the condition of "public expectation of success" a better performance was only shown when the private and the public expectations corresponded with each other.