What is the impact of emotional suppression on performance?

Emotional suppression refers to the process of consciously or unconsciously inhibiting the expression of emotions. When individuals engage in emotional suppression, they may experience heightened levels of anxiety since they are not allowing themselves to process and address their feelings effectively. This can create mental and emotional blocks that detract from their overall performance. For instance, if a person is suppressing feelings of stress or fear, these unaddressed emotions can manifest as anxiety during critical performance situations, such as competitions or high-pressure tasks, ultimately hampering their ability to concentrate and execute effectively.

Furthermore, the cognitive resources required to suppress emotions can lead to cognitive overload, resulting in reduced attention, impaired decision-making, and poorer overall performance. Thus, understanding the nature of emotional suppression and its detrimental effects on performance is crucial for athletes and individuals in high-stakes environments, as developing healthier emotional processing strategies can foster improved outcomes.