According to the Yerkes-Dodson Law, how does performance relate to arousal?

• A. Performance increases with arousal to an optimal level
• B. Performance always improves with more arousal
• C. Performance is independent of arousal
• D. Performance decreases with arousal

Answer: (A)

Arousal and performance follow an inverted-U pattern: performance improves as arousal rises, but only up to an optimal level, and beyond that point further arousal impairs performance. This happens because moderate arousal boosts attention, energy, and focus, helping you handle the task more effectively. However, too much arousal can cause anxiety, distraction, and cognitive overload, which narrows focus and reduces working-memory efficiency. The exact optimal level depends on the task and the individual: easier tasks often tolerate higher arousal, while harder tasks benefit from lower arousal to maintain calm concentration. So, performance increases with arousal up to a peak and then decreases if arousal becomes too high.