Citation

van Yperen NW. Anxiety Stress Coping 2007; 20(4): 409-419.

Affiliation

Department of Social and Organizational Psychology, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands. n.van.yperen@rug.nl

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/10615800701628876

PMID

17999240

Abstract

This research expands on previous research by arguing and demonstrating that high perceived competence buffers the detrimental effects of an evaluative situation. In Study 1 (n=75, 38.7% male), the situation (evaluative vs. non-evaluative) and perceived competence (high vs. low) were manipulated, whereas in Study 2 (n=42, 33.3% male), perceived competence relied on naturally occurring differences in perceived competence. The results of Study 1 indicate that people may underachieve in an evaluative situation. More importantly, in Study 2 it was demonstrated that such an evaluative situation had only a negative effect on test performance among individuals low in perceived competence. The occurrence of task-irrelevant interfering thoughts during task completion accounted for this inimical effect of an evaluative situation on test performance among these individuals.

Language: en