Arousal Theory of Motivation and How It Affects Your Life

Have you ever wondered precisely how some people can be incredibly motivated at work while others can’t seem to invest in their passions, no matter the situation? How can some people keep going, even on days when nothing seems to be working in their favor, even when they definitely shouldn’t be getting anything done? 

Well, I have. I believe that motivation and efficiency are complementary parts of a whole. So, in this post, I will provide insight into one of the most relevant theories in the field of motivation — the arousal theory of motivation and learn how our body and mind work together to improve our productivity. 

What Is the Arousal Theory of Motivation? 

The arousal theory proposes that individuals are motivated to maintain an optimal level of arousal, which is the state of alertness or activation in response to stimuli. This optimal level varies for each person and can be influenced by internal and external factors.

For example, activities that require a high level of concentration and focus may require a lower level of arousal. In contrast, more physically demanding activities or quick reaction times may require a higher level of arousal.

In other words, it posits a relationship between arousal and behavior and suggests that we are more likely to engage in an activity when we are aroused. Arousal can be defined as the nervous system’s activation, including heart rate changes, blood pressure, respiration, and muscle tension. An increase in these factors leads to increased energy levels and subsequent heightened levels of alertness or wakefulness.

Who Developed the Arousal Theory of Motivation?

Psychologists Hans Eysenck, Clark Hull, and A.R. Luria developed the arousal theory of motivation, among others. However, the theory is often associated with the work of psychologists Yerkes and Dodson, who first proposed the concept in 1908 in their research on the relationship between arousal and performance.

Difference Between Arousal Theory and Other Motivation Theories

It’s hard to be motivated sometimes. Whether it’s a post-lunch energy crash or a particularly long day at work, we all need extra motivation occasionally. Unfortunately, being motivated is not as simple as eating another cookie or watching another cat video on Reddit. It turns out that there are many different theories about what constitutes motivation. So, let’s examine the most prominent motivational theories and how arousal theory differs from them.

Drive Reduction Theory

Drive reduction theory suggests that motivation arises from the desire to reduce internal tension caused by unmet physiological needs. In contrast, arousal theory suggests that people are motivated to maintain a certain level of arousal, which is not necessarily related to satisfying a specific physiological need.

Related Read: Learn How Drive Reduction Theory Works

Incentive Theory

Incentive theory suggests that external rewards or incentives, such as money or praise, motivate people. In contrast, arousal theory suggests that people are motivated by the level of arousal they experience, regardless of external rewards.

Self-Determination Theory

Self-determination theory suggests that people are motivated by the need to fulfill their basic psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness. In contrast, arousal theory suggests that people are motivated to maintain a certain level of physiological arousal, which may or may not be related to fulfilling psychological needs. 

Expectancy Theory

Expectancy theory suggests that people are motivated by the expectation that their efforts will lead to desired outcomes. In contrast, arousal theory suggests that people are motivated by the level of physiological arousal they experience, regardless of whether their efforts will lead to desired outcomes.

Arousal Levels and Their Impact on Motivation 

Arousal levels refer to the degree of an individual’s physiological and psychological activation or alertness. This can range from low levels of relaxation to high levels of excitement or anxiety. The impact of arousal levels on motivation can vary depending on the individual and the task. 

Moderate arousal levels generally enhance motivation and performance by increasing alertness and focus. When arousal levels are too low, individuals may lack the necessary energy and motivation to engage in a task. When arousal levels are too high, individuals may become overwhelmed and unable to focus, leading to decreased motivation and performance. 

That said, optimal arousal levels vary from person to person and depend on the task at hand. Some tasks require high arousal levels, such as intense physical exercise or competitive sports. Other tasks require lower levels of arousal, such as reading or studying. 

Individuals can learn to regulate their arousal levels through techniques such as deep breathing, visualization, and relaxation exercises to help them achieve their optimal level of arousal and improve their motivation and performance.

Yerkes-Dodson Law and Its Role in Arousal Theory 

The Yerkes-Dodson law is an inverted U-shaped relationship between arousal and performance. The law suggests that high arousal levels may lead to better performance on some tasks but not on others, while lower arousal levels may lead to worse performance on some tasks but not on others.

The law suggests an optimal level of mental arousal for peak performance. This peak level has been termed “optimal arousal,” “optimal level of arousal,” or “relative activation.” In other words, if we are too relaxed, we will not be motivated enough to do anything productive; if we are too excited, we may get anxious and lose concentration.

This theory has been used to explain why people experience different emotions in different situations: those who are anxious perform better under pressure than those who are calm; those who are depressed perform worse under pressure than those who aren’t depressed, etc.

Factors Affecting Arousal Levels

Arousal levels can be affected by several factors. Some of the most common are:

Environmental factors: A noisy or distracting environment may increase arousal levels, while a quiet and peaceful environment may decrease arousal.  

Physical factors: Exercise and caffeine can increase arousal levels, while sedatives and certain medications can decrease arousal. 

Emotional factors: Stress and anxiety can increase arousal levels, while relaxation and positive emotions can decrease arousal. 

Personality factors: Extroverted individuals may seek high levels of stimulation and arousal, while introverted individuals may prefer lower arousal levels. 

Cognitive factors: Tasks that require a high level of attention and mental effort may increase arousal levels, while tasks that are simple and require less attention may decrease arousal levels. 

Time of day: Higher arousal levels typically occur during the day and lower levels at night.

Criticisms of Arousal Theory 

In general, arousal theory is a popular model in social psychology that posits that arousal and emotion are two separate constructs. According to this theory, arousal activates the sympathetic nervous system, and emotions result from a cognitive appraisal. This differs from Cannon-Bard’s model, which suggests that emotion precedes arousal.

Arousal Theory has been criticized for its lack of empirical evidence. Another criticism is that it does not explain how stimuli can lead to different emotional responses. For example, how does looking at a spider make you feel fear but looking at a flower makes you happy?

Furthermore, it cannot explain why emotions differ across individuals because they experience the same stimulus but have different emotional responses. Another criticism is that it cannot explain why some people do not feel emotion when exposed to certain stimuli (i.e., psychopaths).

Wrapping up

Whether you think motivation, as a term, is more naturally inclined towards the scientific or the more personal side of the spectrum is irrelevant. Based on what we’ve observed in this article, there appears to be no clear-cut answer on where it stands. Instead, motivation seems to encompass many things that can be applied across the scientific and personal domains.

From exercise performance to job performance to eating patterns and even one’s career path and life aspirations, motivation plays a defining role in how we all follow through on different tasks in life—and how much we enjoy them along the way.

References

• Yerkes, R. M., & Dodson, J. A. (1908). The relation of strength of stimulus to rapidity of habit-formation. The Journal of Comparative Neurology, 18(5), 459–482. https://doi.org/10.1002/cne.920180503
• APA Dictionary of Psychology. (n.d.). https://dictionary.apa.org/arousal-theory