TOPIC

Self-Pressure



Perfectionism and other forms of self-pressure arise when we internalize judgments or beliefs about ourselves, how we are perceived, and the impact our actions have on ourselves and others. Unlike normal performance pressure (which occurs when the approval or successful execution of our actions carry disproportionate, high-stakes, or very public consequences), self-pressure can occur in the absence of—or even contrary to—external consequences or judgment from others. Self-pressure can be a valuable tool for dedication to routine, practice, and self-improvement, but it can also trap us in self-judgment, burnout, and self-limiting beliefs.

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05:49

What Makes Elite Athletes Thrive or Dive Under Pressure? | The Economist

Psychology is an increasingly important part of elite sport. Winning at the highest levels can depend as much on peak-fitness of the mind as the body. For top-level sports people it’s not just skill and athleticism they count. So often, it’s mind over matter.

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The Psychology of Perfectionism in Sport, Dance and Exercise

Perfectionism has been found to play an important yet complex role in sport, dance and exercise.

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How Perfectionism Leads to Athlete Burnout

Setting high goals is great, but how you deal with falling short determines how long you’re willing to keep chasing them.

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FindCenterBe not afraid of greatness. Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and others have greatness thrust upon them.

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05:40

Fragile Confidence and Perfectionism in Volleyball

Dr. Patrick Cohn and Dr. Megan Melchiorre, our newest member to the Peak Performance Sports Mental Coaching team, start a new mental game video series for volleyball coaches, players and parents. They discuss the psychology of volleyball and some of the challenges that volleyball players have.

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More College Students Seem to Be Majoring in Perfectionism

New data from American, Canadian and British college students indicates that perfectionism, especially when influenced by social media, has increased by 33 percent since 1989.

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07:29

How Perfectionism Stifles Young Athletes’ Success

Dr. Patrick Cohn discusses how fear of failure and perfectionism in young athletes can stifle their performance and thus success in sports.

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FindCenterOur doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we oft might win by fearing to attempt.

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How Perfectionism Affects Athletes’ Performance After Competitive Failure

Elite athletes are more likely to rise to the occasion after a failure if they keep potential unhelpful consequences of striving for perfection in check, according to a University of Alberta study, the first of its kind to investigate perfectionism and performance following failure in competitive...

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07:31

Self Care for Students: Overcoming Perfectionism

Do you struggle with balancing your desire to do excellent work with the stress of trying to succeed at everything? In this video, I share three practical self care strategies for overcoming perfectionism.

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Young Adult Well-Being