Motivations, Emotion, and Personality Edition Practice Test

Arousal theory holds that motivation comes from the desire to reach and maintain an optimal level of alertness. When arousal is too low, people seek stimulation to raise it; when it’s too high, they engage in activities to reduce it. The idea is that performance is best at a moderate level of arousal, with too little or too much arousal hindering performance (an inverted U relationship). This differs from Drive Reduction Theory, which focuses on relieving internal discomfort from unmet needs; Maslow’s theory emphasizes a hierarchy of needs to be satisfied in order; and Expectancy Theory centers on beliefs about likely rewards and their value rather than regulating arousal.