Performance Lecture

The performance lecture highlighted some key theories and brought up very interesting points about the nature of performance and motivation. In particular, the discoveries regarding arousal and behavior really stood out to me. I was very surprised to learn about the relationship between arousal and task complexity. According to the Yerkes-Dodson Law, for optimal performance, arousal should be lower on difficult tasks and higher on easier tasks. While at first I was a little confused by these findings, it eventually made sense to me because we are more capable of completing easier tasks than complex ones when our arousal levels are high. An example of a simple task could be taking out the garbage, while an example of a more difficult task could be a sporting event such as playing in a baseball game. As a person who has participated in competitive sports, I feel that these findings pertain to me. While some anxiety can be helpful in sports, being too anxious is debilitating. Ultimately, when athletes perform within their zone of optimal functioning, they are most successful.