Effects of Competition on Performance, and the Underlying Psychophysiological Mechanisms

_________________________________________________________________________ This thesis investigates potential psychophysiological mechanisms to explain the effects of competition on performance. In the first experiment novice participants undertook a golf putting task under varying levels of competitive pressure. Fewer putts were holed with increased competitive pressure. Mediation analyses revealed that effort, muscle activity and lateral clubhead acceleration were responsible for the decline in performance. In the second experiment, expert golfers completed a putting task under varying levels of competitive pressure. Results indicated that increased competitive pressure improved performance, in terms of how close putts finished to the hole. Mediation analyses revealed that effort and heart rate partially mediated improved performance. In the third experiment, participants undertook a handgrip endurance task in competitive and non-competitive conditions. Results indicated that endurance performance was greater during competition. Enjoyment fully mediated whereas effort and heart rate variability partially mediated the effects of competition on performance. In the final experiment, participants undertook a handgrip endurance task in individual and team competitions. Endurance performance was better during team competitions. Mediation analyses revealed that enjoyment and effort mediated the effects of competition on performance. These findings are discussed in relation to processing efficiency, reinvestment, and enjoyment-based theories of the competition– performance relationship. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS __________________________________________________________________________ I would like to say thank you to all those who have helped me. I would especially like to thank my supervisor, Prof. Chris Ring, for all the time and effort that he has dedicated to my tuition. My knowledge has been enriched considerably from his excellent supervision, and I am very grateful for all guidance he has provided. I would also like to thank Dr. Maria Kavussanu for all of her advice and support, in particular, her numerous detailed comments that have helped shape my manuscripts. In addition, my thanks are extended to Dr. David McIntyre for building various bits of equipment, and writing programs to score the physiological signals. It has been a great pleasure to work with all of you. I would like to thank all of my friends in Sportex, who have helped make the past three-years an enjoyable experience. Particular thanks go to my housemates Stuart and Leigh, for all the laughs at the end of each day, which made it easy to switch off and relax when at home. Additional thanks are extended to the postgraduate and project students who have helped me collect data over the past three-years. Finally, and most importantly, thanks to my Mum and Dad, and the rest of the family. I couldn’t have got this far without your constant love, encouragement and support. I am very grateful for all that you have done for me. LIST OF PAPERS __________________________________________________________________________ This thesis includes the papers detailed below: Cooke, A., Kavussanu, M., McIntyre, D., & Ring, C. (in press). Psychological, muscular and kinematic factors mediate performance under pressure. Psychophysiology. DOI : 10.1111/j.1469-8986.2010.01021.x Cooke, A., Kavussanu, M., McIntyre, D., & Ring, C. (under review). Effects of competitive pressure on expert performance: Underlying psychological, physiological and kinematic mechanisms. Psychophysiology. Cooke, A., Kavussanu, M., McIntyre, D., & Ring, C. (under review). Effects of competition on endurance performance and the underlying psychological and physiological mechanisms. Biological Psychology. Data from this thesis also led to the publication of the following conference abstracts: Cooke, A., Kavussanu, M., McIntyre, D., & Ring, C. (2010). The winner takes all versus all for one and one for all: The social psychology of individual and team competitions. Paper presented at the University of Birmingham research poster conference, Birmingham, UK. Cooke, A., Kavussanu, M., McIntyre, D., & Ring, C. (2008). Psychological, muscular and kinematic factors mediate performance under pressure in sport. Paper presented at the British Psychological Society sport psychology conference, London, UK. CONTENTS __________________________________________________________________________