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    Anxiety and cognitive performance: attentional control theory

    Eysenck, M.W. and Derakhshan, Nazanin and Santos, R. and Calvo, M.G. (2007) Anxiety and cognitive performance: attentional control theory. Emotion 7 (2), 336 - 353. ISSN 1528-3542.

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    Abstract

    Attentional control theory is an approach to anxiety and cognition representing a major development of Eysenck and Calvo's (1992) processing efficiency theory. It is assumed that anxiety impairs efficient functioning of the goal-directed attentional system and increases the extent to which processing is influenced by the stimulus-driven attentional system. In addition to decreasing attentional control, anxiety increases attention to threat-related stimuli. Adverse effects of anxiety on processing efficiency depend on two central executive functions involving attentional control: inhibition and shifting. However, anxiety may not impair performance effectiveness (quality of performance) when it leads to the use of compensatory strategies (e.g., enhanced effort; increased use of processing resources). Directions for future research are discussed.

    Metadata

    Item Type: Article
    Keyword(s) / Subject(s): Anxiety, attention, inhibition, shifting
    School: Birkbeck Faculties and Schools > Faculty of Science > School of Psychological Sciences
    Depositing User: Administrator
    Date Deposited: 09 Aug 2011 13:44
    Last Modified: 02 Aug 2023 16:55
    URI: https://eprints.bbk.ac.uk/id/eprint/3950

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