Get excited: reappraising pre-performance anxiety as excitement.
Level 2 - randomized trial
Series of randomized experimental trials (evaluated by design analogy, non-clinical).
PubMed 24364682 · doi:10.1037/a0035325
What was done
Across several experimental studies involving high-arousal tasks (karaoke singing, public speaking, and math performance), the author investigated the strategy of reappraising anxiety as excitement compared with attempting to calm down. Interventions used minimal strategies, including self-talk (such as stating "I am excited" out loud) or simple instructional messages (such as "get excited").
What was found
The abstract reports no numerical data, effect sizes, or p-values. It states that compared to attempting to calm down, reappraising anxious arousal as excitement resulted in participants feeling more excited, adopting an opportunity mindset instead of a threat mindset, and achieving superior task performance.
Why it matters
This paper demonstrates that aligning high emotional arousal with an excitement mindset is more effective for performance than attempting to suppress arousal to calm down. It highlights how minimal cognitive interventions can alter mindset and performance under stress.
Limits
The abstract provides no sample sizes, demographic details, or quantitative effect sizes. The findings are based on discrete laboratory tasks, and long-term durability or effectiveness in high-stakes clinical or professional environments is not reported.
Cited by
- supports States of high excitement and anxiety involve similar physiological activation, such as elevated heart rate and the release of neurochemicals, despite differing psychological interpretations.