Manipulating cardiovascular indices of challenge and threat using resource appraisals

Challenge and threat reflect two distinct psychophysiological approaches to motivated
performance situations. Challenge is related to superior performance in a range of tasks
compared to threat, thus methods to promote challenge are valuable. In this paper we
manipulate challenge and threat cardiovascular reactivity using only resource appraisals,
without altering perceived task demands between challenge and threat conditions. Study 1
used a competitive throwing task and Study 2 used a physically demanding climbing task. In
both studies challenge task instructions led to challenge cardiovascular reactivity and threat
task instructions led to threat cardiovascular reactivity. In study 1, participants who received
challenge instructions performed better than participants who received threat instructions. In
study 2, attendance at the climbing task did not differ across groups. The findings have
implications for stress management in terms of focusing on manipulating appraisals of
upcoming tasks by promoting self-efficacy and perceived control, and focusing on approach
goals. Future research could more reliably assess the influence of similar task instructions on
performance.