Table 3. Typical experience of the nine participants of the TSST.

	Situation	SEQUENCES	Perceptions	Actions	Intentions
Job interview task	Entering the room Explanation of instructions	Exploratory investigation	Surprise Generally tense atmosphere	I’m listening I’m observing	Try to understand
	Preparation phase 3 minutes	Preparation	Time pressure Preparing	I’m organizing my presentation	Find and select ideas Keep within the time
	Interview phase 5 minutes	1) Recitation	Reassured to be doing what is planned	I’m reciting	Repeat the prepared introduction
		2) Expanding on ideas	Stressed by hesitations and memory lapses	I’m expanding on the ideas I’ve planned	Retrieve and state the ideas I have prepared Convince the committee
		3) Time pressure	Anxiety on seeing how much time is left	I’m watching the countdown	Know how far I’ve got
		4) Loss of control: Nothing more to say	Feel observed, judged Uncomfortable about saying whatever comes into my head Time perceived as interminable	I can’t think any more I’m searching chaotically I’m hesitating, I’m stuttering, I’m leaving gaps I’m constantly glancing at the time left	Fill the time Avoid gaps Look for support
		5) Abandon, resignation	Sense of incompetence Sense of looking incompetent	I’m losing my grip I’m doing nothing, I’m keeping quiet	Wait for it to end
		6) Detachment	Realize it’s not important	I’m laughing I’m laughing at myself	Try to reassure myself
		7) Paradoxical liberation	Hear beep at end of countdown Relief Sense of failure	I’m relaxing I’m staying concentrated for the second task	Self-evaluate Worry about what the committee will think of me
Mental arithmetic task	Explanation of instructions	Exploratory investigation	Pressure increasing Sense of relative easiness	I’m listening to the instructions	Try to understand
	Calculation phase 5 minutes	1) Calculation disturbed	Under time pressure Ashamed of making mistakes in an easy task	I’m going fast but I’m making lots of mistakes I’m getting lost: I’m recalculating several times	Not make mistakes Be quick
		2) Negative Spiral	Feel everything getting jumbled up in my head Aware of my negative thoughts	I can’t count any more I’m making repeated errors	Not look incompetent
		3) Seeking solutions	Withdraw into self	I’m looking for strategies	Find solutions Not lose face
		4) Abandonment, resignation	Fed up, I’ve had enough of this Realize it’s too much for me	I have nothing more to say I’m saying whatever comes into my head	Make the time go by
		2´) Repeated successes	Only thinking about the numbers	I’m concentrating I’m giving one right answer after another	Not make a mistake and have to go back to the start
		3) Paradoxical liberation	Hear beep at end of countdown Relief Sense of failure	I’m relaxing	Self-evaluate Leave