The Yerkes-Dodson law—named for the psychologists who documented it in 1908—tells us that arousal increases performance, but only to a point. Too much stress can cause worry, overthinking, and poor performance, while too little stress leads to boredom and lack of motivation.
Our Yerkes-Dodson Law worksheet teaches the concept with simple language and examples. Use this handout to normalize stress and anxiety or to start a conversation about the purpose of these emotions. The Yerkes-Dodson law is especially popular in sports psychology and when dealing with perfectionism.
For many, the Yerkes-Dodson law feels intuitive and memorable, making it an appealing therapy tool. However, since its discovery, the research behind the concept has been called into question. While the basic idea behind the Yerkes-Dodson law may be true, the arousal-performance relationship isn’t as simple as once believed. For example, factors such as the type of arousal (e.g., stress versus excitement) and the type of task being completed also play a role in performance.
Because of these limitations, we suggest using this tool as one way to conceptualize stress and to promote conversation, while leaving the theory open to critique.
