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precompetition anxiety

increased cognitive and physiological arousal before a competition. Precompetition anxiety may facilitate or inhibit performance, depending on the performer’s perception of readiness or apprehension. See debilitative anxiety; facilitative anxiety.

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Psychology term of the day

September 8th 2024

drift

drift

n.

1. a reduction in variation in genetic traits that can occur when sampling from continually smaller groups, such that some traits ultimately become excluded from possibility.

2. a reduction in the reliability of technical instruments orin the accuracy of observers over time. See instrument drift; observer drift.