The Causes and Treatment of Performance Anxiety

Abstract

Through the use of an experiential approach and method the causes of performance anxiety were discovered. These causes were found in the way the experience of performance anxiety was constituted rather than in the external conditions. The five causal elements present in the experience of performance anxiety were as follows: the perceived presence of significant others, consideration of the possibility of visible failure, the felt need to avoid failure, the uncertainty of the outcome, and the focus on self. Treatment strategies were suggested for dealing with each of these elements. Optimal strategies included focusing on process rather than results, the moment of experience rather than the future, positive approach goals rather than negative avoidance goals, and self-acceptance rather than self-doubt.