A systematic review of ironic effects of motor task performance under pressure: The past 25 years

Bartura, Khelifa; Görgülü, Recep; Abrahamsen, Frank Eirik; Gustafsson, Henrik · 2023 · OpenAlex-citations

DOI: 10.1080/1750984x.2023.2193966

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Summary

This systematic review examines the ironic effects of motor task performance under pressure, synthesizing 25 years of empirical research based on Wegner’s theory of ironic processes of mental control. The study addresses the phenomenon where athletes, attempting to avoid specific errors under high-pressure conditions, ironically commit those very errors due to cognitive load. The review was motivated by the lack of comprehensive evaluations of this theory in sports psychology and aimed to assess the quality of existing evidence, the effectiveness of experimental manipulations, and the methodological rigor of prior studies. The authors conducted a systematic search across ten databases for studies published between 1998 and January 2022, adhering to PRISMA 2020 guidelines. They identified 24 empirical studies involving 1,152 participants, predominantly male and ranging from novices to elite athletes. The review categorized studies by design, finding that 79% were quasi-experimental and 21% were experimental. The primary methods for inducing cognitive load were anxiety-based techniques (67% of studies), such as financial incentives and ego-threatening instructions, and dual-task techniques (33%), which taxed attentional resources through concurrent tasks. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT), revealing high inter-rater reliability. Due to heterogeneity in samples and tasks, the authors employed a narrative synthesis rather than a meta-analysis. The findings indicate that most studies supported Wegner’s assumptions, demonstrating that avoidant instructions under cognitive load significantly increase the likelihood of ironic errors. Common motor tasks included perceptual-motor activities like penalty shooting and golf putting. The review also identified positive, action-oriented instructional interventions as effective strategies to reduce these errors. However, 8% of the evidence was inconclusive. The analysis highlighted significant gaps in the literature, particularly the scarcity of studies involving elite athletes and the limited use of robust experimental designs. Most research relied on novice or trained participants in laboratory settings, which may not fully replicate competitive stressors. The significance of this review lies in its clarification of the mechanisms behind performance breakdowns under pressure and its provision of evidence-based recommendations for coaches and sport psychologists. By identifying the limitations of current research, the authors call for future studies to focus on robust experimental designs, the inclusion of elite athletes, and the integration of competitive stressors. These improvements are essential for developing effective interventional programs to mitigate ironic effects and enhance athletic performance in high-stakes environments.

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• stress arousal performance