Elif Erdem is a sport psychology researcher and former professional figure skater with a passion for helping athletes reach their full performance potential. She earned her master’s degree in sport psychology from Florida State University as a Fulbright scholar, where her thesis explored the interplay between perfectionism, burnout, and the psychology of rest among collegiate athletes.

Currently pursuing her doctorate in sport psychology at Humboldt University under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Franziska Lautenbach, she focuses on psychological preparation for high-pressure performance. Drawing from both her athletic background and academic expertise, her research centers on planned disruptions, which are deliberate modifications in training environments designed to simulate competitive stress (Kegelaers et al., 2020). This concept is rooted in established psychological methods such as systematic desensitization and stress inoculation training, aiming to build athletes’ coping resources through controlled exposure to pressure.

Her dissertation investigates the experiences of both athletes and coaches, with the goal of identifying effective strategies for implementing planned disruptions, understanding which methods are most beneficial, and determining how to apply them without compromising athlete well-being. By emphasizing athlete perspectives, Elif’s work seeks to bridge the gap between performance enhancement and psychological safety, ultimately helping to prevent misunderstandings and unintended consequences such as strained coach-athlete relationships.