Procrastination as self-regulation failure of performance: Effects of cognitive load, self-awareness, and time limits on 'working best under pressure'

Effects of cognitive load, objective self-awareness and time limits on the self-regulation of performance speed and accuracy were investigated between procrastinators and non-procrastinators. In experiment 1 chronic procrasti nators completed fewer items (slow speed) and made more errors (less accura cy) than non-procrastinators tinder high but not low cognitive load conditi ons when the time span was limited and brief. In experiment 2 chronic procr astinators performed slower than non-procrastinators under a 2 second, but not tinder no limit, 1 second, or 4 second time limit conditions. Chronic p rocrastinators compared to non-procrastinators also performed more slowly a nd made more performance errors tinder objective self-awareness conditions regardless of the length of time. These experiments indicate that chronic p rocrastinators regulate ineffectively their performance speed and accuracy when they 'work, tinder pressure' (defined by high cognitive load, objectiv e self-awareness, and imposed time limitations). Copyright (C) 2001 John Wi ley & Sons, Ltd.