STRATEGIC THINKING AND STRESS

In this study we investigate the behaviour and the performance of expe rimental subjects, who had to solve a series of tasks of 'strategic th inking' under a stress and a non-stress condition. No significant diff erences between the conditions could be found with respect to performa nce and improvement of performance within the series of tasks, but the experimental subjects exhibited under the different conditions differ ent forms of behaviour. Unexpectedly the Ss working under the stress-c ondition exhibited a more 'analytical' behaviour and increased their w orkload, instead of decreasing it. Additionally they exhibited a tende ncy for measures with salient effects and proved to be better in findi ng the right points of main effort. The results are discussed with res pect to a general theory of action regulation.