Strategic thinking and stress.
In this study we investigate the behaviour and the performance of experimental subjects, who had to solve a series of tasks of 'strategic thinking' under a stress and a non-stress condition. No significant differences between the conditions could be found with respect to performance and improvement of performance within the series of tasks, but the experimental subjects exhibited under the different conditions different forms of behaviour. Unexpectedly the Ss working under the stress-condition exhibited a more 'analytical' behaviour and increased their workload, instead of decreasing it. Additionally they exhibited a tendency for measures with salient effects and proved to be better in finding the right points of main effort. The results are discussed with respect to a general theory of action regulation.
Dörner
D
D
Lehrstuhl Psychologie II, Otto-Friedrich-Universität Bamberg, Germany.
Pfeifer
E
E
D006801:Humans; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000523:psychology*; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D013850:Thinking