Yerkes-Dodson Law Experiment
Too relaxed or too stressed can both hurt your performance. The Yerkes-Dodson law describes the inverted-U curve: performance rises with arousal to an optimal point, then falls. Test it on yourself with simple math under three pressure levels.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What does the Yerkes-Dodson law say?
The Yerkes-Dodson law, described by Robert Yerkes and John Dodson in 1908, states that performance increases with arousal up to an optimal point and then declines. The relationship forms an inverted-U curve, meaning both too little and too much arousal can hurt performance.
What if my accuracy fell under high pressure?
A drop in accuracy under intense time pressure is consistent with the descending arm of the inverted-U curve: pressure-related stress can consume working-memory resources and disrupt concentration on mental arithmetic. Not everyone shows this pattern, though — some people stay accurate, or even improve, when time is short.
Is the optimal arousal level the same for every task?
No. Easy or well-learned tasks are usually performed best at moderate-to-high arousal, while complex or novel tasks peak at lower arousal. This is sometimes called the Yerkes-Dodson task-difficulty effect.
How can I use this in everyday life?
Notice your own arousal before important tasks and adjust it: slow breathing and relaxation can calm an over-aroused state, while energizing routines or music can raise a low-arousal state. Matching your arousal to task demands often improves performance.
Show Details
What is the Yerkes-Dodson Law?
First described by psychologists Robert Yerkes and John Dodson in 1908, the law states that performance increases with physiological or mental arousal — but only up to a point. Beyond that optimal level, further arousal degrades performance, producing an inverted-U shaped relationship.
The Inverted-U Relationship
At low arousal you may feel bored or under-engaged, so effort and attention drop. At moderate arousal you are alert and motivated, and performance peaks. At very high arousal — such as intense pressure or anxiety — stress interferes with concentration and performance falls again. The optimal arousal level depends on the task: easy, well-learned tasks tolerate higher arousal, while difficult or novel tasks peak at lower arousal. Note that this interactive version manipulates time pressure rather than arousal directly: time pressure is used as an operational proxy for arousal — we do not measure physiological arousal.
Real-World Applications
The Yerkes-Dodson law informs exam preparation, sports psychology, public speaking, and workplace design. Athletes and performers learn to regulate arousal to reach their personal 'zone.' Students are often advised to match their arousal level to task difficulty — staying calm for hard problems and energizing themselves for routine ones.
References
- Yerkes, R. M., & Dodson, J. D. (1908). The relation of strength of stimulus to rapidity of habit-formation. Journal of Comparative Neurology and Psychology, 18(5), 459-482.
- Hebb, D. O. (1955). Drives and the C.N.S. (conceptual nervous system). Psychological Review, 62(4), 243-254.
- Broadhurst, P. L. (1959). The interaction of task difficulty and motivation: The Yerkes-Dodson law revived. Acta Psychologica, 16, 321-338.
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About This Experiment
This experiment is an educational adaptation for demonstration purposes. It is not a clinical diagnostic tool. Results reflect your performance in this specific session and should not be interpreted as an assessment of your cognitive abilities.
Data Privacy
Your experiment data is processed and stored locally in your browser. No data is uploaded to any server unless you explicitly export it.
