The Influence of Hormonal Stress on Performance

In today’s competitive societies, performing well is one of the most essential elements of success. Winning or losing is often a reflection of one’s performance, and performing well can be particularly challenging in high-pressure situations. Such situations are stressful because the stakes are high and there may be a lot to lose, say, a client, a job, a lover, or a sports competition. Performing well under pressure leads to winning: Delivering an excellent presentation wins the client over; staying calm when answering a recruiter’s questions wins the job; showing one’s best possible side wins the heart of another; and playing the best tennis wins the final.