Get excited: reappraising pre-performance anxiety as excitement

Journal of Experimental Psychology. General
Alison Wood Brooks

Abstract

Individuals often feel anxious in anticipation of tasks such as speaking in public or meeting with a boss. I find that an overwhelming majority of people believe trying to calm down is the best way to cope with pre-performance anxiety. However, across several studies involving karaoke singing, public speaking, and math performance, I investigate an alternative strategy: reappraising anxiety as excitement. Compared with those who attempt to calm down, individuals who reappraise their anxious arousal as excitement feel more excited and perform better. Individuals can reappraise anxiety as excitement using minimal strategies such as self-talk (e.g., saying "I am excited" out loud) or simple messages (e.g., "get excited"), which lead them to feel more excited, adopt an opportunity mind-set (as opposed to a threat mind-set), and improve their subsequent performance. These findings suggest the importance of arousal congruency during the emotional reappraisal process.

Citations

Oct 1, 2014·The Behavior Analyst·Patrick C Friman
Nov 14, 2015·Trends in Cognitive Sciences·Crystal ReeckKevin N Ochsner
Aug 17, 2016·PloS One·Sandra J E Langeslag, Jan W van Strien
Jun 6, 2017·International Journal of Psychophysiology : Official Journal of the International Organization of Psychophysiology·Sandra J E Langeslag, Kruti Surti
Mar 27, 2018·The Spanish Journal of Psychology·Joan PonsRemco Polman
Feb 24, 2018·Anxiety, Stress, and Coping·Jeremy P JamiesonModupe Akinola
Sep 28, 2018·Annual Review of Psychology·Sarah D PressmanJudith T Moskowitz
Apr 24, 2020·Aging & Mental Health·Kathryn L OssenfortDerek M Isaacowitz
Apr 24, 2020·The Journals of Gerontology. Series B, Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences·Jenna L WellsRobert W Levenson
Jul 7, 2020·Journal of Personality·Angela BookJennifer Roters
Jun 27, 2020·Stress and Health : Journal of the International Society for the Investigation of Stress·Martin S HaggerKyra Hamilton
Feb 6, 2020·Frontiers in Psychology·Eric N SmithAlia J Crum
Nov 5, 2019·Annals of Behavioral Medicine : a Publication of the Society of Behavioral Medicine·Johannes A C LafertonJohannes Zimmermann
Apr 6, 2017·Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics and Gynaecology·Francisco J Fernández-CamposJuan Gallego
Nov 17, 2016·Frontiers in Psychology·Samuel J VineMark R Wilson
Nov 16, 2017·Experimental Brain Research·Michail DoumasWilliam R Young
Aug 6, 2019·Frontiers in Psychology·David L Rowland, Jacques J D M van Lankveld
Jul 3, 2020·Frontiers in Psychology·Margaret S OsborneKatharine H Greenaway
Oct 4, 2017·Psicologia, Reflexão E Crítica : Revista Semestral Do Departamento De Psicologia Da UFRGS·Alberto Filgueiras, Craig R Hall
Aug 1, 2018·Frontiers in Psychology·Raluca MateiJane Ginsborg
Nov 3, 2017·BJPsych International·Raluca Matei, Jane Ginsborg
Nov 13, 2018·Annals of Behavioral Medicine : a Publication of the Society of Behavioral Medicine·Jacob J KeechKyra Hamilton
Jan 15, 2019·Journal of Personality·Jeanette KubiakBoris Egloff
Dec 4, 2020·PsyCh Journal·Consolación Gómez-ÍñiguezFrancisco Palmero Cantero
Jan 2, 2021·Accident; Analysis and Prevention·Natakorn PhuksuksakulSunhapos Chantranuwathana
Oct 24, 2020·Cognition & Emotion·Karen Chow, Eduardo Mercado
Jul 10, 2021·Mind, Brain and Education : the Official Journal of the International Mind, Brain, and Education Society·Sue B WhitingMichael S C Thomas
Sep 18, 2021·Memory & Cognition·Mark W Susmann, Duane T Wegener

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.