Performing under Pressure; on the Biology, Psychology and Sociology of stress in high-performance
professions
I - INTRODUCTION

Course: Performing under Pressure
uFaculty of Sports Studies
u
uSchedule
uTuesdays (09:00-10:40)
uLecturer
uDavid William Mac Gillavry
u404280@in.muni.cz
uOffice hours – upon request
u

Who am I?
uReligious studies (UvA / MUNI)
uCognitive science of religion
uWestern esotericism
uSecrecy dynamics
uMilitary Management (UNOB)
uStress & PTSD
uLeadership
uNutrition
uSocial conformity & in-group dynamics
u

My current research
University of Defence
uStress resilience under extreme conditions
uLeadership & combat leadership
uIn-group dynamics & moral behaviour under extreme conditions uPreparation for high-stress
experiences

Course specifics
uThe course aims to provide a comprehensive introduction into stress-science with a focus on
high-performance professions. The course will investigate the effects of stress on the individual
as well as the collective and interactions within said collective. After the course students will
have a basic understanding of the function of stress under extreme conditions, how to utilise it
effectively, how to manage it and how to recognise when it becomes overwhelming in both oneself and
others

Syllabus
Lecutre
Topic
Seminar
1
Introduction to the course and stress science
Observable measures & perception of stress
2
On the physiology of stress
3
On the psychology of stress
4
On the social psychology of stress
5
Stress related disorders and what they can teach us about performance
Stress management
6
Stress management
7
Performance under stress
Performance enhancement under pressure
8
Team-performance under stress
9
Nutrition, stress and performance
Lifestyle, stress and performance
10
Relax, on the importance rest

Course requirements
uBe here, be active & be prepared
uA term paper
uMin 8 pages (2.0 spacing)
uProper bibliography and referencing (preferably APA)
uSubject of your choosing as long as it relates to stress and peak performance
u

The point of this course is NOT [sic!] to eliminate stress! If you are in a situation that requires
a functional, focused and quick response, you had better get stressed like any other mammal!
uPeak performance and physical exercise in general depend on the stress response
uExplosive physiological output
uHeightened task related focus
u
uStress management and optimisation

How we differ from most other animals
uAnticipation
uHyperactive Agency Detection
uTheory of Mind
u
uDuration
u
uProjection
Bering, J. M. (2002). The existential theory of mind. Review of General Psychology, 6(1), 3–24.
https://doi.org/10.1037//1089-2680.6.1.3
Mahy, C. E. V., Moses, L. J., & Pfeifer, J. H. (2014). How and where: Theory-of-mind in the brain.
Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, 9, 68–81. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dcn.2014.01.002
Valdesolo, P., & Graham, J. (2014). Awe , Uncertainty , and Agency Detection.
https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797613501884

The ”luxury” of stress related illnesses
uThroughout history people died of parasites, infectious diseases, violence, hunger, giving birth,
etc.
u
uThe major killers today:
u

And in the EU (where few die of traditional infectious diseases)



What happened here?



Stress is a matter of perception but its based a shared evolutionary framework and physiology



Perceived stressors and reality
uWe have a strong tendency to stress over perceived inadequacies rather than real ones
u
uBeauty ideals
u
uHappiness & success
u
u
Frank, R. H. (2016). Success and luck: good fortune and the myth of meritocracy. Princeton, Oxford:
Princeton University Press.
Lin, R., & Utz, S. (2015). The emotional responses of browsing Facebook: Happiness, envy, and the
role of tie strength. Computers in Human Behavior, 52, 29–38.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2015.04.064
de Lima Bastos, P. A., & Pessoa, R. R. (2019). A discussion on english language students’ body
image: Beauty standards and fatness. Profile: Issues in Teachers’ Professional Development, 21(1),
13–26. https://doi.org/10.15446/profile.v21n1.69603

Retrospective perception:
did we win?


Life-threatening and social stress
uAcute life threatening stress
uFight or flight response
u
u
uSocial stress
uSocial standing and position in the hierarchy
uChallenges to reproductive success
u

Good stress
uLimited duration
u
uPositive outcome
u
uNot too threatening
u
uNo anticipated long term negative consequences after its over
Sapolsky, R. M. (2004). Why zebras don’t get ulcers: A guide to stress, stress related diseases,
and coping. In Natural History. https://doi.org/10.1002/cir.3880060119