Alleviating Choking: The Sounds of Distraction

Full text for this resource is not available from the Research Repository.

Mesagno, Christopher, Marchant, Daryl and Morris, Tony (2009) Alleviating Choking: The Sounds of Distraction. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 21 (2). pp. 131-147. ISSN 1041-3200

Abstract

“Choking” is defined as a critical deterioration in the execution of habitual processes as a result of an elevation in anxiety levels under perceived pressure, leading to substandard performance. In the current study, music was used in a “dual-task” paradigm to facilitate performance under pressure. Three “choking-susceptible” experienced female basketball players were purposively sampled from 41 screened players. Participants completed 240 basketball free throws in a single-case A1-B1-A2-B2 design (A phases = “low-pressure” and B phases = “high-pressure”), with the music intervention occurring during the B2 phase. Following completion of the phases, an interview was conducted to examine perceptions of choking and cognitions associated with the effects of the music lyrics. Participants improved performance in the B2 phase, and explained that choking resulted from an increase in public self-awareness (S-A). The music intervention decreased S-A, and enabled participants to minimize explicit monitoring of execution and reduce general distractibility.

Dimensions Badge

Altmetric Badge

Item type Article
URI https://vuir.vu.edu.au/id/eprint/4461
DOI 10.1080/10413200902795091
Official URL http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/1041320...
Subjects Historical > FOR Classification > 1701 Psychology
Historical > Faculty/School/Research Centre/Department > School of Sport and Exercise Science
Historical > SEO Classification > 970117 Expanding Knowledge in Psychology and Cognitive Sciences
Keywords ResPubID18243, choking, distraction, music intervention, coping strategies, sport performance
Citations in Scopus 44 - View on Scopus
Download/View statistics View download statistics for this item

Search Google Scholar

Repository staff login