Explain the optimum arousal theory.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

When we are very excited, our arousal levels are high. When we are bored, they are low. You have probably noticed that motivation influences arousal levels. Sometimes you can want something (for example, to do well on a test) so much that you feel "overmotivated" and anxious. On the other hand, you might be so unmotivated for a task (such as doing dishes) that you can hardly force yourself to complete it.

Early in the twentieth century, two psychologists described how arousal can influence performance. According to their formulation, now known as the Yerkes-Dodson law, performance is best under conditions of moderate arousal rather than either low or high arousal. At the low end of arousal, you may be too lethargic to perform tasks well; at the high end, you may not be able to concentrate.

The relationship between arousal and performance is one reason that individuals who have to perform well under stressful conditions (such as EMTs and lifeguards) are trained to overlearn important procedures so that they do not require much thought. With this extra learning, when these individuals are under conditions of high arousal, they can rely on automatic pilot to do what needs to be done.