Managing performance anxiety and improving mental skills in conservatoire students through performance psychology training: a pilot study

ESports, also known as competitive video gaming, has seen tremendous growth over the past few years. Several studies have been conducted that examined the potential cognitive benefits of playing video games, but few have examined the psychosocial factors needed to perform at the highest level of competitive video gaming. In this study, the researchers aimed to identify specific mental obstacles players face and any mental techniques gamers already utilize by conducting a qualitative content analysis. Interviews with five high-level competitive League of Legend players were conducted to shed light on their experiences. The interviews resulted in two high order themes. Those high order themes were the following: techniques used to achieve optimal performance and obstacles encountered by competitive gamers. The data collected can be used by a wide population in both the performance psychology field and the eSports realm, more specifically, future mental skills consultants working with League of Legends players, gamers themselves, and academics who wish to serve, improve, or study those involved in an emerging performance domain.

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Investigating the circumstances under which singers use imagery: A pilot study

Psychology of Music ◽

10.1177/0305735619868299 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 030573561986829 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Brianna DeSantis ◽

Sarah Deck ◽

Craig Hall

Keyword(s):

Pilot Study ◽

Qualitative Study ◽

Character Development ◽

Performance Anxiety ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Male And Female ◽

Vocal Technique ◽

Professional Dancers ◽

High Level

This is a qualitative study in which detailed, semi-structured interviews were conducted with six male and female high-level singers. In comparison to Nordin and Cumming’s work on professional dancers, some similarities and some unique differences emerged from the results. The Four Ws framework was employed, which involves Where, What, Why, and When singers image. Like in Nordin and Cumming’s study, How was a dimension that emerged inductively from the results. Singers mainly used imagery for improving vocal technique, performance anxiety, and character development.

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An Exploration of Mental Skills Among Competitive League of Legend Players

International Journal of Gaming and Computer-Mediated Simulations ◽

10.4018/ijgcms.2017040101 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 1-21 ◽

Cited By ~ 29

Author(s):

Daniel Himmelstein ◽

Yitong Liu ◽

Jamie L. Shapiro

Keyword(s):

Qualitative Content Analysis ◽

High Order ◽

Video Gaming ◽

Mental Skills ◽

Performance Psychology ◽

Cognitive Benefits ◽

High Level ◽

Mental Techniques ◽

League Of Legends ◽

Wide Population

ESports, also known as competitive video gaming, has seen tremendous growth over the past few years. Several studies have been conducted that examined the potential cognitive benefits of playing video games, but few have examined the psychosocial factors needed to perform at the highest level of competitive video gaming. In this study, the researchers aimed to identify specific mental obstacles players face and any mental techniques gamers already utilize by conducting a qualitative content analysis. Interviews with five high-level competitive League of Legend players were conducted to shed light on their experiences. The interviews resulted in two high order themes. Those high order themes were the following: techniques used to achieve optimal performance and obstacles encountered by competitive gamers. The data collected can be used by a wide population in both the performance psychology field and the eSports realm, more specifically, future mental skills consultants working with League of Legends players, gamers themselves, and academics who wish to serve, improve, or study those involved in an emerging performance domain.

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Pilot Study of Muslim Women's Perceptions on Religion and Sport

Psychological Reports ◽

10.2466/pr0.96.3.787-790 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 96 (3) ◽

pp. 787-790 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Matthew S. Wiggins ◽

Sarah J. Hillyer ◽

Cedric Browning

Keyword(s):

Pilot Study ◽

Family Support ◽

Religious Beliefs ◽

Performance Anxiety ◽

Muslim Women ◽

Higher Order ◽

Women’S Perceptions ◽

Positive Correlations

This study surveyed 25 Muslim women from Iran about their religious beliefs about sport while taking part in a softball clinic. Direct quotes were collected, translated into English, transcribed verbatim from surveys, and then inductively analyzed into higher order themes, which included strategies to deal with performance anxiety, presence of friends and family support, and use of religion in sport. Quantitative scores recorded indicated a low positive correlations of .17 between sport and religion, although there were some indications of differences about importance (some rated sport more important than religion). Hypotheses are proposed for study.

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Anxiety and Optimal Piano Performance: A Pilot Study on the Application of the Individual Zone of Optimal Functioning (IZOF) Model

International Journal of Psychological Studies ◽

10.5539/ijps.v8n4p60 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 8 (4) ◽

pp. 60 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Zijin Yao

Keyword(s):

Pilot Study ◽

Music Performance ◽

Performance Anxiety ◽

Anxiety Reduction ◽

Public Performance ◽

Piano Performance ◽

Music Performance Anxiety ◽

Individual Zone ◽

Optimal Functioning ◽

The Individual

<p>Music Performance Anxiety (MPA) is a common problem for musicians. Many musicians struggle with performance anxiety and rely on traditional de-arousal interventions to reduce performance anxiety before public performance. However, research in sports psychology suggests that anxiety reduction may not be the most appropriate strategy for intervention (Chamberlain & Hale, 2007). According to the Individual Zone of Optimal Functioning (IZOF) model proposed by Hanin, an athlete’s performance is successful when his or her pre-competition anxiety is within or near the individual’s optimal zone (Hanin, 2000). Based on the application of the IZOF theory in the context of piano performance, anxiety plays an important role in optimizing performance in music as well. This pilot study identified participants’ IZOFs with the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory (CSAI-2). Support was found for Hanin’s IZOF theory with respect to the SA (somatic anxiety) and SC (self-confidence) dimensions for both of the participating pianists, as well as the CA (cognitive anxiety) dimension of pianist A but not for the CA dimension of pianist B. Piano performances associated with anxiety of an intensity that fell within the IZOF were observed to be significantly better than piano performances associated with anxiety intensity outside the IZOF. All the peak performances were presented within the IZOFs. The study verified that the IZOF model can be applied in MPA management and may help pianists be more aware of in-zone/out-zone states and rethink their attitudes toward performance anxiety. With this pilot study as a foundation, larger scale research can be conducted to clarify the correlation between anxiety and optimal piano performance.</p>

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