The cycle of a student's academic year serves as a practical example of arousal theory. Towards the end of a semester, students often become overaroused due to the stress of exams and assignments, leading them to desire rest. After a period of relaxation during the break, they can become underaroused and bored, which motivates them to return to the stimulating environment of school to achieve an optimal arousal level.

Example of Arousal Theory: Student Academic Cycle

The Yerkes-Dodson law, developed by researchers Robert Yerkes and John Dodson, describes the relationship between arousal and performance. It generally follows an inverted U-shaped curve, where moderate arousal leads to optimal performance, while very low levels (apathy) or very high levels (anxiety) impair it. However, the law also specifies that the ideal level of arousal depends on task complexity. Simple tasks are performed best with higher arousal, whereas complex tasks require lower levels of arousal for peak performance.

Yerkes-Dodson Law

As an extension of drive theory, arousal theory suggests that motivation stems from the need to maintain an optimal level of physiological and psychological arousal. According to this theory, if arousal levels are too low, individuals experience boredom and are motivated to seek stimulation. If arousal levels are too high, they are driven to engage in behaviors that reduce arousal. The specific relationship between arousal levels and task performance is detailed by the Yerkes-Dodson Law.

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According to drive theory, behavior is motivated by the need to maintain homeostasis. When a biological system deviates from its optimal balance, a physiological need arises. This need creates a psychological drive state that compels an organism to act in a way that satisfies the need and restores homeostasis. Furthermore, the theory suggests that when a particular behavior successfully reduces a drive, it is more likely to be repeated in the future, thus forming a habit.

Drive Theory of Motivation

Spielman, R. M., Jenkins, W. J., & Lovett, M. D. (2020, April 22). Psychology (2nd ed.). OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/psychology-2e/pages/1-introduction

OpenStax Psychology (2nd ed.) Textbook

An example of drive theory can be seen in the experience of hunger. When blood sugar levels drop after a period without food, this deviation from homeostasis creates a physiological need. This need generates the psychological drive of hunger, which motivates the individual to find and eat food. Consuming food satisfies the need, eliminates the hunger drive, and restores blood sugar levels to their normal, balanced state.

Example of Drive Theory: Hunger

Within the context of drive theory, a habit is a regularly performed pattern of behavior that has been reinforced by successfully reducing a psychological drive. When an action effectively satisfies a need and restores homeostasis, an individual is more likely to repeat that action when the same drive arises in the future.

Habits in Drive Theory

A psychological drive state is a state of arousal that emerges from a physiological need, which itself is caused by a deviation from homeostasis. This drive state motivates an organism to perform behaviors that will satisfy the need and return the biological system to its balanced state.

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