Some people claim that they work better under a certain level of pressure, while others freeze when they can’t handle stress. Both perspectives are valid, and the explanation lies in the so-called Yerkes-Dodson Law. This psychological principle illustrates that moderate levels of stress can fuel productivity, but excessive stress can hinder performance.
The Yerkes-Dodson Law was first introduced by psychologists Robert Yerkes and John Dillingham Dodson in 1908. The theory remains relevant more than a century later, demonstrating its enduring significance.
According to this law, performance improves with some level of physiological or mental arousal, but only up to a certain point. When arousal levels become too high, performance tends to decline as pressure increases. The relationship is often depicted as an inverted U-shaped curve, where the peak of performance is achieved at the balance between stress and motivation.
Image: Stojan Trajanovski
Stress: The Secret Productivity Ingredient That Can Work Against You
According to the Yerkes-Dodson Law creators, the best way to boost motivation and enhance performance is to set a series of short-term goals that create a sense of urgency. This approach encourages the brain to focus and dedicate time to specific tasks without significantly increasing stress levels or workload. They also make them manageable.
When tasks are performed with a low level of stress or alertness, they can become monotonous and boring. This may lead to a state of demotivation, making you more susceptible to procrastination. Alternatively, it may result in stretching tasks beyond their recommended timeframes. The lack of motivation produces poor performance and diminished productivity.
In contrast, if stress levels become too high, feelings of anxiety can arise, leading to psychological discomfort. This can result in cognitive blocks that severely impair concentration and problem-solving abilities. Excessive stress can also produce physical discomfort with serious health consequences, which is even more detrimental than simple demotivation.
A common example of this is the anxiety many people experience before an exam. A moderate level of stress can enhance concentration and help the brain recall answers effectively. However, excessive stress can lead to paralysis, where the mind goes blank during the exam.
So, what’s the ideal level of stress or motivation? There’s no one-size-fits-all solution. The ideal level not only varies between individuals but can also change based on a person’s mood at any given moment.
Four key factors can influence this relationship:
- The ability to perform the task. A skilled individual requires less attention to complete a task compared to someone who’s doing it for the first time and may be under more pressure.
- Personality. Each person copes with pressure differently. Studies indicate that extroverts tend to manage stress better than introverts, while introverts are more motivated when pressure is alleviated.
- Self-confidence or trait anxiety. Self-confidence influences how much incentive is needed to achieve peak motivation. Those who are more insecure have a lower stress tolerance, which can lead to a decrease in performance.
- Task complexity. The complexity of a task also plays a crucial role in determining motivation and incentive levels. Responding to a few emails requires different levels of motivation compared to completing a multi-page report. More complex tasks can lead to overexertion, potentially resulting in lower productivity.
The peak of the graph described in the Yerkes-Dodson Law correlates directly with the flow theory developed by psychologist Mihály Csíkszentmihályi. According to him, flow is “a state in which people are so involved in an activity that nothing else seems to matter; the experience is so enjoyable that people will continue to do it even at great cost, for the sheer sake of doing it.” In other words, concentration is so high that only the process leading to task completion is in view.
Additionally, experiments conducted from the 1950s to the 1980s demonstrated a correlation between high levels of stress and improved memory, concentration, and performance.
Other research from 2007 suggests that this correlation may be linked to the release of certain hormones in the brain during episodes of moderate stress. These hormones can enhance memory and concentration, following a curve similar to that in the Yerkes-Dodson Law. As such, hormones can improve performance up to a point, after which increased hormone levels lead to a significant decline in performance.
Image | Wes Hicks | Stojan Trajanovski
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