An Investigation into the Temporal Patterning of Performance Affectivity and Coping in the Performing Arts

• Other Authors: Kane, Kristen Leigh (authoraut)
• Format: Others
• Language: English; English
• Published: Florida State University
• Subjects: Educational psychology
• Online Access: http://purl.flvc.org/fsu/fd/FSU_migr_etd-3357

Emotions, cognitive appraisals, and coping processes were investigated during a solo and ensemble performance time line. Seven musicians within the age range of 20 - 34 participated in this study. They completed the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory (CSAI-2), one week and one day prior to both performances. The Affect Grid was utilized one week, one day, one hour, and 5 minutes prior to both performances. It was utilized again immediately after both performances along with a Perceived Performance Survey (PPS). Retrospective reports were conducted no more than one week following the musician's last performance. The Affect Grid and the PPS were again utilized during the retrospective report at the researchers discretion. Performers were found to experience the most anxiety prior to solo performance. However, anxiety and self-confidence were only at moderate levels. Performers also experienced more arousal prior to solo performance accompanied by negative emotions. However, pleasantness remained stable at moderate levels. Prior to solo performance, more negative emotions were experienced than prior to ensemble performance. High experienced performers (HEP) and low experienced performers (LEP) coped with these negative emotions prior to performance by utilizing emotion-focused and problem-focused coping methods. HEP reported utilizing emotion-focused and problem-focused coping strategies more than their LEP counterparts. During performance, HEP and LEP levels of arousal and pleasantness continued to increase until the end of performance. Similarly, they experienced positive emotions. HEP and LEP thoughts were directed towards the audience, although their perceptions differed. LEP reported utilizing emotion-focused and problem-focused coping strategies more than their HEP counterparts. After both performances, HEP and LEP experienced the highest levels of arousal and pleasantness accompanied by positive emotions. HEP perceived their performances as higher than LEP, although perceptions were at moderate levels. Gender was found to play an important role in the coping process. Females utilized emotion-focused coping strategies more than males both prior to and during performance. Males utilized slightly more problem-focused coping strategies than women. Previous research on emotional affectivity and the coping process has been extremely limited in the performing arts, and this study was further able to support the potential importance and impact of performance setting, experience, and gender. === A Thesis submitted to the Department of Educational Psychology and Learning Systems in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science. === Fall Semester, 2005. === October 12, 2005. === Qualitative, Performance Anxiety, Musicians === Includes bibliographical references. === Gershon Tenenbaum, Professor Directing Thesis; Robert Eklund, Committee Member; Alysia Roehrig, Committee Member.