The approach to understanding motivation in which behavior is explained in terms of the external stimulus and its rewarding properties is known as 

• A. the incentive approach.
• B. arousal theory.
• C. the Yerkes-Dodson law.
• D. self-determination theory.

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Begin by understanding the concept of motivation in psychology, which refers to the processes that initiate, guide, and maintain goal-oriented behaviors.
2. Identify the key terms in the problem: 'external stimulus' and 'rewarding properties'. These suggest that the motivation is driven by external factors rather than internal states.
3. Review the definitions of the given options: 'incentive approach', 'arousal theory', 'Yerkes-Dodson law', and 'self-determination theory'.
4. Focus on the 'incentive approach', which posits that behavior is motivated by a desire for external rewards or incentives.
5. Compare the 'incentive approach' with the other theories to confirm that it best explains motivation in terms of external stimuli and rewards.