Overview & Description: The Yerkes-Dodson Law posits that performance on tasks is best when the level of arousal (stress or emotional excitement) is appropriate to the difficulty of the task. Specifically:

• Simple tasks are performed best with higher levels of arousal.
• Complex tasks are performed best with lower levels of arousal.

Implications: This law is instrumental in performance psychology, workplace environment design, and educational psychology by helping to optimize task performance through the modulation of arousal and stress levels.

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.