Citation

Manley H, Beattie S, Roberts R, Lawrence GP, Hardy L. J. Pers. 2018; 86(3): 339-352.

Affiliation

Institute for the Psychology of Elite Performance, Bangor University, UK.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/jopy.12318

PMID

28388840

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Humans are often required to perform demanding cognitive and motor tasks under pressure. However, in such environments there is considerable inter-individual variability in the ability to successfully execute actions. Here, we consider how individual differences in self-reported sensitivity to punishment influence skilled motor performance under pressure and whether this relationship is moderated by the temporal detection of threat.

METHOD: Across two studies, one hundred and sixty UK participants (Study 1, n = 80, MAge = 21.6, 52 Males; Study 2, n = 80, MAge = 24.95, 45 Males) performed a precision-grip task and received either early or late warning of an upcoming stressful manipulation involving social evaluation and performance-dependent incentives.

RESULTS: In both studies, we report an interaction where punishment sensitivity was adaptive for motor performance only when threats were detected early and there was opportunity to prepare for the upcoming stressor. Further, our results suggest that the benefits of punishment sensitivity are likely underpinned by the effective use of cognitive strategies.

CONCLUSION: Heightened sensitivity to punishment is adaptive for performance under pressure, provided threats are detected early and effective cognitive strategies are implemented. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

© 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Language: en

Keywords

Anxiety; Defensive Distance; Performance; Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory; Threat Imminence