APSY 460 MotivationArousal TheoryAndrew P. BasaAzusa Pacific University College Author NoteAndrew P. Basa, Applied Studies Student, Azusa Pacific University CollegeCorrespondence regarding This item should be addressed to Andrew P. Basa, Applied Student Studies, Azusa Pacific University College, 901 E. Alosta Ave., PO Box 7000, Azusa, CA 91702-7000. E-mail: abasa13@uc.apu.eduIt It's amazing to see how most athletes perform at their peak and continue to produce and set record-breaking performances. What drives them to these high levels of motivation and productivity? They can come from various influences and sources of motivation and these similar sources can also energize some individuals, influence behavior and arouse their drive. A theory of motivation presented in 20 is called "Arousal Theory". The two psychologists by the names Robert M. Yerkes and John Dillingham Dodson were responsible for introducing the “Yerkes-Dodson Law” in the early 1900s. The theory suggests that “during low arousal or stimulation the results are slow and lethargic and as arousal increases, performance also increases.” As for motivation, excitement is a need that can be triggered by several factors. For example, they may be a factor that depends on temperature or climate. Arousal can be dictated by heat or cold. In “cold” situations, arousal may be considered low while, on the other spectrum of being “hot,” arousal may increase. During winter times, people generally tend to stay indoors and stay warm in their cozy homes by relaxing in front of the fireplace. People's tendencies may be relaxed and lazy (low arousal). On the other hand, during the summer weather most of us are vibrant and lively and having fun...... middle of paper......we are a professional athlete, a teenager listening to rap music, or a combat veteran suffering from PTSD.ReferencesTypes of Arousal Retrieved from http://changingminds.org/explanations/motivation/ three_arousal.htmForgas, J.P., Brennan, G., Howe, S., Fane, J.F., & Sweet, S. ( 1980). Audience effects on squash players' performance. Journal of Social Psychology, 111(1), 41. Pieschl, S., & Fegers, S. (2016). Do violent lyrics equal aggressive listeners? Effects of song lyrics and time on cognition, affect, and self-reported arousal. Journal of Media Psychology: Theories, methods, and applications, 28(1), 32-41. DOI: 10.1027/1864-1105/a000144Sutton, D., Wilson, M., Van Kessel, K., & Vanderpyl, J. (2013). Optimizing arousal to manage aggression: A pilot study of sensory modulation. International Journal Of Mental Health Nursing, 22(6), 500. doi:10.1111/inm.12010