Why does stress tend to decrease performance at complex tasks?

Question

I speed solve Rubik’s cubes as a hobby, and I’ve noticed that my solve times are consistently worse when I’m feeling anxious about my performance than when I’m relaxed and in the moment. However, I’ve heard stress and anxiety described as a response by the nervous system meant to heighten an organism’s performance in high-stakes situations. Why would stress cause me to perform worse at this task instead of better?

In: 54

Answer 1

>when I’m feeling anxious about my performance

When you thinking about something else rather than your task, you perform worse. If you start thinking about your stress, you lose concentration.