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.

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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.

Arousal 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

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.

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