Research paper
Baumeister RF. Choking under pressure: self-consciousness and paradoxical effects of incentives on skillful performance. J Pers Soc Psychol. 1984;46(3):610-620. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.46.3.610. PMID: 6707866.
Why we cite it
Established the "explicit monitoring theory" of choking under pressure through six experiments (~120 participants). Demonstrated that pressure increases self-conscious attention to one's own performance process, which disrupts the automatic execution of well-practiced skills. Both direct manipulations of attention and situational pressure (competition, cash incentives, audience presence) produced performance decrements on coordination and skill tasks. Referenced in companion 437 for the mechanism by which recognition and external attention can paradoxically undermine performance.
DOI: 10.1037/0022-3514.46.3.610 · PubMed 6707866 · Publisher