Name: Why we choke under pressure -- and how to avoid it
Uploaded: 2018-09-18T14:49:49Z
Duration: 15 min 3 s
Description: When the pressure is on, why do we sometimes fail to live up to our potential? Cognitive scientist and Barnard College president Sian Leah Beilock reveals what happens in your brain and body when you choke in stressful situations, sharing psychological tools that can help you perform at your best when it matters most.

Sian Leah Beilock: Why we choke under pressure -- and how to avoid it

Why we choke under pressure -- and how to avoid it

When the pressure is on, why do we sometimes fail to live up to our potential? Cognitive scientist and Barnard College president Sian Leah Beilock reveals what happens in your brain and body when you choke in stressful situations, sharing psychological tools that can help you perform at your best when it matters most.

People often falter at crucial moments, not because they lack ability, but because stress makes them over-focus on their own actions. A high school goalie who excelled until a national coach watched, suddenly choked and lost confidence. Research reveals that excessive self-monitoring disrupts skills that work best on autopilot. Practicing under real conditions, writing down worries, and changing the environment can help prevent choking and unlock true potential.