According to the Yerkes-Dodson law, research has shown that the optimal arousal level of an individual performing a given task is

• A. always as high as possible for best performance
• B. unrelated to the type of task being performed
• C. always as low as possible for best performance
• D. moderate, depending on the complexity of the task

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the Yerkes-Dodson law, which describes the relationship between arousal level and performance, typically illustrated as an inverted U-shaped curve.
2. Recognize that according to this law, performance improves with increased arousal up to an optimal point, after which further arousal leads to a decline in performance.
3. Note that the optimal level of arousal is not fixed; it varies depending on the complexity of the task—simpler tasks often require higher arousal, while complex tasks require moderate to lower arousal.
4. Evaluate the given options by comparing them to the law's principle: 'always as high as possible' and 'always as low as possible' are incorrect because they ignore the optimal moderate level.
5. Conclude that the correct understanding is that the optimal arousal level is moderate and depends on the task complexity, aligning with the Yerkes-Dodson law.