Psychology / Unit 9 Psych 0989 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Arousal Theory
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The idea
Arousal theory holds that people are motivated to maintain an optimal level of physiological activation, raising or lowering it as needed.
In practice
A bored person seeks stimulation and an overwhelmed person seeks quiet, both moving toward the same optimum.
Where people slip
The optimal level differs between people and between tasks for one person.
Your place on the trail
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