Drive theory predicts a linear relationship between arousal and performance for which type of skill?

Drive theory predicts a linear relationship between arousal and performance for which type of skill?

• A. Drive theory
• B. Linear/dominant response/well learned skill
• C. Inverted U theorist
• D. Yerkes and Dodson

Answer: (B)

This item is about how arousal affects performance depending on how automatic a skill is. Drive theory says that arousal facilitates the dominant response, and for a well-learned or simple skill, the dominant response is the correct one. So as arousal increases, performance improves in a straight line because the automatic, practiced action is more likely to be executed well under pressure. If the skill is more difficult or new, higher arousal can push you toward the wrong response, creating a different pattern of performance. The other options refer to the inverted-U idea or name the theory, but they don’t describe the straight-line improvement seen with a well-practiced skill.

This item is about how arousal affects performance depending on how automatic a skill is. Drive theory says that arousal facilitates the dominant response, and for a well-learned or simple skill, the dominant response is the correct one. So as arousal increases, performance improves in a straight line because the automatic, practiced action is more likely to be executed well under pressure. If the skill is more difficult or new, higher arousal can push you toward the wrong response, creating a different pattern of performance. The other options refer to the inverted-U idea or name the theory, but they don’t describe the straight-line improvement seen with a well-practiced skill.