Effects of self-focus and evaluation anxiety on task performance
Abstract
Research examining self-focus effects on task performance has indicated facilitation in some instances and inhibition in others. The present study examines the role of task type, task difficulty, method of self-focus induction, dispositional self-consciousness and presence of evaluation anxiety in performance effects of self-focus. Participants performed a simple reaction time and a lexical decision task, in Experiments 1 and 2 respectively, in a no self-focus, camera presence or a mirror presence condition. Participants' heart rate was monitored and presence or absence of evaluation instructions were manipulated. Self-focused participants performed marginally better in Experiment 1 but there was no significant effect of self-focus on performance in Experiment 2. Self-focus interacted with individual differences in chronic self-consciousness in both experiments to improve performance. Results are interpreted in light of several self-focus theories.
Degree
Ph.D.
Advisors
Vrana, Purdue University.
Subject Area
Psychotherapy|Social psychology|Physiological psychology
Off-Campus Purdue Users:
To access this dissertation, please log in to our
proxy server.