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.
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 |
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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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