Effects of Pressure on Performance and Pre-Performance Routines

Running head: Performance and Pre-Performance Routines
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Performance and Pre-Performance Routines 2
Examining the Effects of Pressure on Performance and Testing the Efficacy of Pre-Performance
Routines
Abstract
The paper attempts to examine the effects of pressure on performances and testing the efficacy of pre-
performance routines. Different journals have attempted to discuss this particular research topic.
Excellent performances are determined by different factors which include pressure and the quality of
health among others. This paper will later review the different journals that discuss the same topics in
depth. After synthesizing the existing academic journals, we will formulate the hypotheses of the
research paper considering the existing academic journals and the research topics. After formulating the
hypothesis, we will carry out analysis. Descriptive statistics and inferential statistics will be conducted
under the result section. Graphs and tables will also be produced and the results of the descriptive
explained. The inferential statistics will be used to test the hypotheses. Finally, the findings of the
results and the literature review will be discussed under the discussion section. The limitation of the
research and the threats of the authenticity of the study will also be discussed in this section. The
implication of future research will also be discussed in this section.

Performance and Pre-Performance Routines 3
Literature review
1. The effect of pressure on the performances
To ensure the quality and effectiveness of a person’s performance, many factors are considered. It is not
all about the physical fitness of an individual, but we need to consider it in a bigger picture. Research
shows that the worry and anxiety may probably reduce the working memory’s capacity. This prediction
is correlated to the distraction theory or the cognitive interference theory. These theories state that
anxiety results in the diversion of attention of the activity being done. Sometimes pressure can
stimulate efforts while doing a task and it always compensates for the reduced performance quality.
Performance effectiveness is always minimal compared to processing efficiency. The influence of
pressure on sports performance has focused on sensorimotor abilities. The skills that are involving are
golf putting which has been used to predict distraction and self-focused explanations. The distraction
and the self-focus were used to try to explain the performance declines. It is crucial to note that the
negative impact of pressure on sports performance is minimal than it would be apprehended (Hil et al.
2010). Much attention has been imputed to the influence of pressure on task performance across a
wide domain e.g., sports performances. From the behavioral evidence, it has been indicated that high-
pressure results decrease task performances more so task that involves reasoning. Attentional Control
Theory has remained one of the related theories that are used to explain the relationship between
anxiety and the level of performances. It is more considered in the extension of the PET, Processing
Efficacy Theory. This theory proposes that being anxious reduces the performances of demanding tasks.
Eysenck and Derakshan (2011) proposed that sometimes worry can lead to a positive performance
resulting in an additional effort and this improves the effectiveness of the task. Even though PET
received advocating support from many behavioral types of research using a variety of cognitive task, it
has many limitations in explaining the effect of anxiety on cognitive performances, and therefore ACT
was developed to improve the theory. It strengthens PET by emphasizing on the performances
effectiveness and the processing efficiency (Eysenck and Derakshan 2011). It predicts that pressure
influences task performances through its detrimental effect on the control of attention. As a result,
anxious individual bespeaks attentional bias regarding dangerous stimuli. Research conducted by Wong
et al. (2013) showed that both high and low anxious individuals showed decreased processing efficacy.
Further, the participants involved showed decreased performances with increased task difficulties. Also,
the participants level of accuracy decreased with increased task difficulties.
1. Effect of Pre-performance routine on performances
Pre-performance refers to the activities that are carried out before the actual performances. These
activities may involve training/ practice etc. While there exists much research that explores the nature
of pre-performance routines in sports, there is also very duties that abridgment the procedure of
developing and enacting these routines. In several sports such as football and cricket, preparation
before the main the match has been highlighted as very crucial to the outcome of the performances. It is
known that the key concentration is filling your mind with what to expect and do the needful to ensure
a successful action. Many publications have cited the effect of pre-performances and behavioral
routines towards the effectiveness of the performances (Cotterill, 2010). Even though many researchers
have researched on this topic, little work has regarded the difficulties that may probably be faced, the
process that could be used for the implementation of the essential routines in sports. The nature of pre-