Emotions, Coping Strategies, and Performance: A Conceptual Framework for Defining Affect-Related Performance Zones

Abstract

This article presents the crisis theory (Bar Eli & Tenenbaum, 1989) and its related approach for determining individual affect-related performance zones (IAPZ: Kamata, Tenenbaum, & Hanin, 2002). The theory and methodology delineate the uniqueness of each individual's ability to appraise stressful conditions and perceive them as functional or dysfunctional to his performance. In addition, the theory and methodology allow incorporating self-regulatory behaviors and coping strategies used during the encounter with situations, which vary in stress appraisal. The article also describes coping mechanisms used to energize (i.e., activate) and relax persons facing situations that vary in cognitive, physical, and affective demands. In particular, the use of imagery and self-talk as coping strategies in stressful situations are presented in more details. Since performance of military personnel involves substantially stressful circumstances (Wallenius, Larsson, & Johansson, 2004), the article advises how sport psychology theories, methodology, and findings can be used in the military environment.

A mixed-methods study of physiological reactivity to domain-specific problem solving: methodological perspectives for process-accompanying research in VET

“…Tenenbaum et al (2008) emphasize domain-specific expertise as an important coping resource in arousal-provoking performance situations. The authors conclude that high pressure prevents novices from performing complex skills well and competently because attention is shifted to task-irrelevant concerns, and the lack of automaticity results in an increase of procedural errors.…”

“…Existing literature provides evidence that general intelligence increases resilience (Cederblad et al 1995). Domain-specific expertise and knowledge are assumed to be an important coping resource in arousal-provoking performance situations (e.g., Nitsch 1982;Tenenbaum et al 2008). Self-efficacy beliefs are assumed to buffer effects of demanding conditions and to be essential to cope effectively with demanding vocational activities (e.g., Bandura 1994; Ebstrup et al 2011).…”

“…Experts (compared to novices) may have acquired arousal-coping strategies which are linked through repeated exposure to problem-solving practice. Such strategies enable them to minimize stress in arousal-provoking situations due to high degrees of automaticity in action-regulation processes (Nitsch 1982;Tenenbaum et al 2008). Participants with less or even no vocational experience (cf.…”

“…the above-median group, ≥4 years) have by this point acquired adequate coping strategies and may consider successful problem solving realistic (cf. Lazarus 1991Lazarus , 1999Tenenbaum et al 2008). Taking into consideration that the HR indicator primarily reflects attentional aspects of information processing demands (Kohlisch and Schaefer 1996), the stronger increase in HR with increasing degrees of activities including goal elaboration and definition could be interpreted as follows: the "novices" have to concentrate their attention on goal elaboration to a greater extent than the "experts" (who already have developed routines) may have to do.…”

Emotions and Emotion Regulation Among Novice Military Parachutists

“…Emotion regulation has also been reported as a critical factor in performance (Davis, Woodman, & Callow, 2010;Fiore & Salas, 2008;Janelle & Hatfield, 2008;Tenenbaum et al, 2008;Totterdell & Leach, 2001;Wallenius, Larsson, & Johansson, 2004). In the military however, the intensity of emotional states experienced in theatres of operation presents a challenge to researchers and to military personnel endeavouring to develop effective training protocols (Friedland & Keinan, 1992;Steinberg & Kornguth, 2009).…”