Performing Under Pressure
Why skilled people falter under pressure, and how to rise to the moment instead.
11 steps · roughly 33 minutes to read · Reviewed by Shariq Refai, MD, MBA
Yerkes-Dodson Law
The Yerkes-Dodson law is a model where moderate arousal helps performance and extremes hurt it.
Arousal
Arousal is the calm-to-activated energy dimension of a feeling.
Choking Under Pressure
Choking is a pressure driven slump where you perform below your true ability.
Reinvestment Theory
Overthinking an automatic skill under pressure breaks it.
Ironic Process Theory
Suppression can summon the very thought or action you're fighting.
Attentional Focus
Focusing on the intended effect usually beats focusing on your body.
Quiet Eye
A longer, steadier final look at the target that sharpens accuracy.
Pre-Performance Routine
The same steps before every attempt make readiness repeatable instead of random.
Clutch Performance
Delivering at your peak precisely when the stakes are greatest.
Psychological Momentum
A sense of momentum that shifts confidence, effort, and focus.
Yips
When a once-automatic movement becomes jerky or blocked, especially under pressure.