Anxiety-Induced Changes in Movement Behaviour during the Execution of a Complex whole-body task

Abstract

We investigated the impact of anxiety on movement behaviour during the execution of a complex perceptual-motor task. Masters ' (1992) conscious processing hypothesis suggests that under pressure an inward focus of attention occurs, resulting in more conscious control of the movement execution of well-learned skills. The conscious processes interfere with automatic task execution hereby inducing performance decrements. Recent empirical support for the hypothesis has focused on the effects of pressure on end performance. It has not been tested so far whether the changes in performance are also accompanied by changes in movement execution that would be expected following Masters' hypothesis. In the current study we tested the effects of anxiety on climbing movements on a climbing wall. Two identical traverses at different heights on a climbing wall provided different anxiety conditions. In line with the conscious processing hypothesis we found that anxiety had a significant effect on participants' movement behaviour evidenced by increases in climbing time and the number of explorative movements (Experiments 1 and 2) and by longer grasping of the holds and slower movements (Experiment 2). These results provide additional support for the conscious processing hypothesis and insight into the relation between anxiety, performance, and movement behaviour.When the pressure is high, performance becomes less predictable. In sports, for example, some top athletes thrive under the pressure while others miserably fail, especially at these crucial moments of, for instance, a decisive penalty shot in soccer or a match point in tennis. What does it mean to execute perceptual-motor skills under high pressure? Why do some seem to benefit from stressful situations while others seem to suffer under those circumstances? In what way are movements different when they are executed in anxiety-provoking situations compared to more neutral situations? To answer the question why anxiety may

The dynamics of expertise acquisition in sport: The role of affective learning design

“…These findings were particularly evident on the first attempt of the highest beam height, highlighting the often intense emotions involved with moving out of a 'comfort zone' in attempting a new or more challenging task. Similarly, comparing climbing traverses identical in design, but of different heights revealed that the higher traverses produced increased anxiety, elevated heart rates, longer climbing duration, and increased exploratory movements in climbers (Pijpers, Oudejans, & Bakker, 2005).…”

Anxiety, movement kinematics, and visual attention in elite-level performers.

“…Therefore, because ACT predicts that anxiety will affect processing efficiency more than performance effectiveness, we argue that performance outcome will significantly decrease under high compared with low anxiety conditions. In line with previous reports that have examined movement kinematics in skeet shooting, we assessed participants' movement efficiency by measuring gun barrel displacement, variability, peak velocity and movement times (Causer, Bennett, Holmes, Janelle, and Williams, 2010).We expected anxiety to have a negative effect on movement efficiency, as shown by increased movement variability and displacement (Beuter & Duda, 1985;Beuter et al, 1989;Pijpers et al, 2005;Nieuwenhuys et al, 2008). We expect earlier onset and longer duration of QE (cf.…”

Competing Under Pressure: State Anxiety, Sports Performance and Assessment

“…The conscious processing hypothesis, sometimes also referred to as selffocused hypothesis or explicit monitoring (Beilock & Carr, 2001) has to date received increasing support as an explanation for performance deteriorations of anxiety in sports (Beilock & Carr, 2001;Beilock, Carr, MacMahon, & Starkes, 2002;Beilock, Wierenga, & Carr, 2002;Lewis & Linder, 1997;Mullen & Hardy, 2000;Pijpers, Oudejans, & Bakker, 2005;Pijpers, Oudejans, Holsheimer, & Bakker, 2003). The idea behind the hypothesis comes from theories on skill acquisition, suggesting that development of skills proceeds through different cognitive phases.…”

“…In sport psychology research, support has been presented particularly for the conscious processing hypothesis (Beilock & Carr, 2001;Beilock et al, 2002a,b;Lewis & Linder, 1997;Mullen & Hardy, 2000;Pijpers et al, 2003Pijpers et al, , 2005, which states that harmful effects on motor-tasks result when anxiety increases selffocus and thereby athletes' attempts to consciously control well-learned movements. Thus, this "self-focus" mechanism is included in the model as one possible explanation.…”