Arousal and Behavior Concepts

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to arousal and its effects on behavior, including definitions and principles from psychological theories.

Arousal

The mobilization or activation of energy that occurs in preparation or during actual behavior.

Internal Sources of Arousal

Sources that include deprivation states, drugs, and hormones.

External Sources of Arousal

Sources such as food, pain, and touch.

Stimulus Specific Arousal

A type of arousal, such as responding to a specific stimulus like touching a rat's tail.

Generalized Arousal State

Also known as a central excitatory state; a broad state of readiness in response to stimuli.

Optimal Arousal Theory

The theory that suggests there is an ideal level of arousal for optimal performance.

Yerkes-Dodson Law

A principle stating that higher arousal facilitates performance on easy tasks, while lower arousal aids performance on difficult tasks.

Cognitive Anxiety

Negative expectations and mental concerns regarding performance in a competitive situation.

Somatic Anxiety

Self-perception of physiological arousal linked to nervousness and tension about performance.

Positron Emission Topography (PET)

A method that measures brain activity by detecting positrons attached to glucose.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

An imaging technique that uses a magnetic field to detect energy waves from hydrogen atoms.

Electroencephalogram (EEG)

A test that amplifies and detects electrical impulses in the brain.

Energetic Arousal

A range of feelings from tiredness to liveliness; positively correlated with positive affect and optimism.

Tense Arousal

A range of feelings from calmness to anxiety; positively correlated with negative affect.

Reticular Activating System (RAS)

A brain structure involved in regulating wakefulness and arousal.

Inverted U-shaped Function

A model depicting the relationship between arousal and performance, showing there is an optimal arousal level for best performance.

Introversion/Extraversion

Personality traits that can influence levels of arousal and optimal arousal preferences.

Cue Utilization Hypothesis

The theory that arousal affects our attention by limiting the number of cues we can focus on.

Hull-Spence Drive Theory

A theory suggesting that arousal enhances the likelihood of the correct response in easy tasks and weakens incorrect responses in difficult tasks.

Skin Resistance Responses (SRRs)

Physiological measure of arousal typically associated with sweat.

Central Excitatory State

A state of heightened general arousal due to stimulation.

Discriminating Learning Task

A task in which subjects learn to distinguish between different objects or stimuli.

Physiological Activation

Increased physical responses, such as heart rate and blood pressure, related to arousal.

Zone of Optimal Functioning

The range of arousal levels that lead to peak performance.

Arousal and Task Difficulty

The relationship indicating how different tasks require different levels of arousal for optimal performance.

Performance Factors in Arousal

Elements such as personality traits and time of day that can influence individual performance levels.

Feedback Mechanism in Arousal

The process by which arousal levels influence and modify behavioral responses.

Persistent Behavior

The consistency and longevity of actions influenced by arousal levels.

Effectiveness of Behavior

The impact and success rate of behavior as influenced by varying arousal states.

Easterbrook Hypothesis

The theory stating that higher arousal reduces attention to cues in a performance setting.