Choking under pressure: A systematic review of attentional theories in individual and team sport contexts

Abstract Objective: This systematic review investigates whether the impact of attentional mechanisms on choking under pressure differs significantly between individual and team sports contexts, employing frameworks such as Attentional Control Theory (ACT) and Reinvestment Theory. Methods: Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta- Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, databases including PubMed, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect were used, along with specific keywords. Inclusion Results: Synthesis of data from the literature revealed that there is support for both Attentional Control Theory and Reinvestment Theory, however, no certain evidence was found to imply that team and individual contexts differ in terms of choking under pressure. The similar patterns that emerged in both contexts were more pronounced in individual situations due to more complex dynamics that describes team situations. Conclusion: Despite the initial hypothesis, evidence indicates a surprisingly consistent pattern of attentional mechanisms in individual and team sport contexts. Support for both main theoretical frameworks were found, suggesting the need for an integrated model. Since there is a lack of scientific research on the effect of team dynamics on choking under pressure it should be in focus by future research.