Final answer:
The Yerkes-Dodson Law posits that an optimal level of arousal can enhance performance up to a point, beyond which performance declines. A lower level of arousal is advantageous for complex tasks, while simple tasks may benefit from higher arousal levels. However, extreme levels of stress or boredom can be detrimental to performance.
Step-by-step explanation:
The principle that you're referring to is known as the Yerkes-Dodson Law, which suggests that there is an optimal level of arousal for the best performance. According to the law, as arousal levels increase, so does performance, but only to a certain point. Beyond this optimal point, if the arousal becomes too high, performance will start to decline. This is due to excessive stress or anxiety impeding concentration and effectiveness.
For simple tasks, a higher level of arousal can be beneficial and can lead to better performance. In contrast, for complex tasks, it is better to have a lower level of arousal to perform at one's best. This indicates that the optimal arousal level is not fixed but varies depending on the complexity of the task at hand. This variance is particularly evident in situations where students might feel overly stressed, such as during finals week, leading them to underperform due to high stress levels. Conversely, too little arousal, such as feelings of boredom, can also result in poor performance.