Which law, developed by Robert M. Yerkes and John D. Dodson, states that performance increases with arousal up to an optimal point and then declines as arousal becomes too high?

Which law, developed by Robert M. Yerkes and John D. Dodson, states that performance increases with arousal up to an optimal point and then declines as arousal becomes too high?

• A. Yerkes-Dodson Law
• B. State
• C. Functional Analysis
• D. Response to Intervention

Answer: (A)

Performance as arousal changes follows an inverted-U pattern: increasing arousal boosts performance up to an optimal point, but beyond that point, further arousal impairs performance. This relationship is captured by the Yerkes-Dodson Law, which states there is a peak level of arousal that yields the best performance, and that the height of this peak depends on how difficult the task is. For simpler tasks, higher arousal can still support good performance, while for complex tasks, too much arousal tends to hinder it. This helps explain why a little stress can sharpen focus, but excessive stress can lead to mistakes. The other terms describe different ideas that don’t fit this pattern of arousal and performance. One refers simply to a mental or emotional state, another to a method for analyzing behavior by testing environmental variables, and the last to a broader educational framework for supporting learning. Because only the Yerkes-Dodson Law specifically addresses how performance changes with varying arousal and identifies an optimal level, it is the best fit.

Performance as arousal changes follows an inverted-U pattern: increasing arousal boosts performance up to an optimal point, but beyond that point, further arousal impairs performance. This relationship is captured by the Yerkes-Dodson Law, which states there is a peak level of arousal that yields the best performance, and that the height of this peak depends on how difficult the task is. For simpler tasks, higher arousal can still support good performance, while for complex tasks, too much arousal tends to hinder it. This helps explain why a little stress can sharpen focus, but excessive stress can lead to mistakes.

The other terms describe different ideas that don’t fit this pattern of arousal and performance. One refers simply to a mental or emotional state, another to a method for analyzing behavior by testing environmental variables, and the last to a broader educational framework for supporting learning. Because only the Yerkes-Dodson Law specifically addresses how performance changes with varying arousal and identifies an optimal level, it is the best fit.