ABSTRACT
An important aspect of establishing control is competence. A person may know how to complete a series of actions but may occasionally fail to maintain accuracy. In stress, the occurrence of errors or slowness may be particularly important. If we imagine a strategy as involving a series or sequential group of behaviours, linked by the purpose of achieving a desired goal in order to obtain control, the occurrence of errors in the output can weaken the effectiveness of the strategy. A person who intends to escape from a smoke-filled room by pushing open the fire doors, will fail in overall strategy if slipping whilst climbing over the furniture.
