• what would be the optimal level of emotional arousal for a student taking a course exam?

by Ruben Hill 7 min read

What is an optimal level of arousal in psychology?

According to the arousal theory of motivation, each person has a unique arousal level that is right for them. When our arousal levels drop below these personalized optimal levels, we seek some sort of stimulation to elevate them. For example, if our levels drop too low we might seek stimulation by going out to a nightclub with friends.

What is the arousal theory of motivation Quizlet?

Jun 10, 2020 · So what is the optimal level of arousal? What level leads to the best performance? Research shows that moderate arousal is generally best; when arousal is very high or very low, performance tends to suffer (Yerkes & Dodson, 1908). Think of your arousal level regarding taking an exam for this class. If your level is very low, such as boredom and apathy, your performance …

How do you become aroused by emotions?

An optimal frequency (25%) of highly aroused emotional expression was found to relate to outcome, with deviation from this optimal frequency predicting poorer outcome. Conclusions: Too much or too little emotion was found to be not as helpful as a moderate amount.

What is an example of arousal in teaching?

What is the optimum level of arousal?

Optimal arousal is a psychological construct referring to a level of mental stimulation at which physical performance, learning, or temporary feelings of wellbeing are maximized (Smith 1990). It can also be described as the degree of energy release and the intensity of readiness.Jun 25, 2016

How can you find your optimal performance arousal theory?

The optimal arousal theory of motivation states that we seek to attain optimal arousal level because by achieving the optimal arousal level, we can perform at our best. We know that we have reached the optimal arousal level when we are comfortable physically, emotionally and intellectually.

What are the examples of optimal arousal theory?

When the arousal levels drop below the individual's optimal level, the person seeks out stimulation to elevate them. For example, if the levels are to drop low the person might seek stimulation by going out to a nightclub with friends.

What is arousal GCSE PE?

Arousal is the level of activation and alertness experienced by a performer. For example, a judo player may feel highly aroused the moments before a bout and much less aroused an hour after the contest has ended.

How does the optimal level of arousal for a simple task differ from that of a more complex task?

So, what's the optimal amount of arousal? That depends on the task. A simpler task requires a higher amount of arousal, while a more challenging task requires a lower level of arousal.Oct 22, 2020

What is emotional arousal?

Emotional Arousal is a state of heightened physiological activity. This includes having strong emotions like anger and fear and we go to the emotional arousal state in response to our daily experiences. For example the fight, flight or freeze response is a state of emotional arousal.Mar 31, 2015

Why is optimal arousal important?

Optimal arousal is required for athletes to perform their best. Arousal is different to anxiety as it is a physiological response similar to getting excited before an event. Arousal is about getting ready for action and often causes an increase in heart rate and blood pressure as well as heightened neural activity.Feb 29, 2016

What effect does emotional arousal have on memory?

Arousal enhances memory for high priority information, reduces memory for low-priority information. Mara Mather's research focuses on how emotion and stress affect memory and decisions and how such influences differ depending on one's age and gender.

Where should your level of arousal or excitement be to result in your best performance?

Research shows that moderate arousal is generally best; when arousal is very high or very low, performance tends to suffer (Yerkes & Dodson, 1908). Think of your arousal level regarding taking an exam for this class. If your level is very low, such as boredom and apathy, your performance will likely suffer.

How optimal arousal levels vary according to the skill being performed in a physical activity or sport?

Each athlete has their own optimal level of arousal. Optimal arousal is higher for more simple tasks and lower for more complex tasks. An increase in arousal causes improvement in performance up to an optimal point (moderate arousal level). After this point, increased arousal leads to deteriorated performance.

How does level of arousal affect performance?

Increased arousal can lead to better test performance by helping you stay alert, focused, and attentive. Excessive arousal can lead to test anxiety and leave you nervous and unable to concentrate on the test. When arousal levels are very high or very low, performance tends to be worse.May 14, 2020

Why are my arousal levels low?

There are many psychological causes of low sex drive, including: Mental health problems, such as anxiety or depression. Stress, such as financial stress or work stress. Poor body image.Dec 17, 2020

Theories About Motivation

William James (1842–1910) was an important contributor to early research into motivation, and he is often referred to as the father of psychology in the United States. James theorized that behavior was driven by a number of instincts, which aid survival ( Figure 10.4 ).

Physiological Mechanisms

There are a number of physiological mechanisms that serve as the basis for hunger. When our stomachs are empty, they contract. Typically, a person then experiences hunger pangs. Chemical messages travel to the brain and serve as a signal to initiate feeding behavior.

Metabolism and Body Weight

Our body weight is affected by a number of factors, including gene-environment interactions, and the number of calories we consume versus the number of calories we burn in daily activity. If our caloric intake exceeds our caloric use, our bodies store excess energy in the form of fat.

Obesity

When someone weighs more than what is generally accepted as healthy for a given height, they are considered overweight or obese. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an adult with a body mass index (BMI) between 25 and 29.9 is considered overweight ( Figure 10.10 ).

Eating Disorders

While nearly two out of three US adults struggle with issues related to being overweight, a smaller, but significant, portion of the population has eating disorders that typically result in being normal weight or underweight. Often, these individuals are fearful of gaining weight.

Physiological Mechanisms of Sexual Behavior and Motivation

Much of what we know about the physiological mechanisms that underlie sexual behavior and motivation comes from animal research. As you’ve learned, the hypothalamus plays an important role in motivated behaviors, and sex is no exception.

Sexual Orientation

As mentioned earlier, a person’s sexual orientation is their emotional and erotic attraction toward another individual ( Figure 10.18 ). While the majority of people identify as heterosexual, there is a sizable population of people within the United States who identify as homosexual, bisexual, pansexual, asexual, or other non-hetero sexualities.

What is the arousal theory?

You may remember that the arousal theory is one of the many theories of motivation that help explain why we behave the way we do. Motivation and Emotion make up 6-8% of the Advanced Placement Psychology exam, so mastering each theory and understanding its main concepts is a crucial part of studying for the exam.

What is the relationship between arousal and performance?

The Yerkes-Dodson Law states that for easy tasks, the higher the level of physiological or mental arousal, the higher the performance.

What is motivation and emotion?

Motivation and Emotion is the area of psychology that studies the whys behind our complex human behavior, seeking to answer these and many other questions. Before the arousal theory came to be, other motivation theories were created to explain human behavior, and they are also covered in the AP® Psych curriculum, ...

What is motivation in psychology?

Motivation is often defined as all the internal factors that direct our behavior towards a goal. These can be needs, desires, ideas and feelings that explain why you do what you do. For example, why are you studying AP® Psychology? Why do you want to spend a day playing a video game or reading a book or cooking a new recipe? What would motivate somebody to write a book, participate in a protest or do something boring in exchange for money? How can you raise your motivation or other people’s motivation so you can achieve a desired goal? Motivation and Emotion is the area of psychology that studies the whys behind our complex human behavior, seeking to answer these and many other questions.

Motivation and Arousal

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Motivation is often defined as all the internal factors that direct our behavior towards a goal. These can be needs, desires, ideas and feelings that explain why you do what you do. For example, why are you studying AP® Psychology? Why do you want to spend a day playing a video game or reading a book or cooking a ne…
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The Yerkes-Dodson Law and How You Can Use It

  • Researchers Robert Yerkes and John Dodson studied the relationship between the level of arousal and performance in a task, and their finding is known as theYerkes-Dodson Law. The Yerkes-Dodson Law states that for easy tasks, the higher the level of physiological or mental arousal, the higher the performance. But if the task at hand is difficult, a higher level or arousal will only incre…
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A Free Response Question Example

  • Now that you’ve mastered the arousal theory in this AP® Psychology Crash Course Review and understands what the Yerkes-Dodson Law is all about, take a moment to think about and try to answer the following Free Response Question (FRQ) example from 2000: Your high school is proposing moving to a system in which grades are no longer given or used to evaluate student p…
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