Optimal Arousal Levels for State Fair Contests

Explanation:

According to the Yerkes-Dodson Law of Arousal, also known as Arousal Theory, an organism's performance can be improved if the organism is aroused in some manner. This implies that a person's performance increases with physiological or mental arousal, but this lasts up to a point. When this point is exceeded, high stress is reached, and performance plummets. The Yerkes–Dodson law of Arousal was developed in 1908 by two psychologists, Robert M. Yerkes and John Dillingham Dodson.

Final answer:

Optimal arousal for performance varies by task complexity; high arousal is suitable for simple tasks like a blueberry pie eating contest, while moderate arousal benefits more complex tasks like a 100-yard dash with delicate balancing elements.

Explanation:

According to the Yerkes-Dodson law, the optimal level of arousal for performance varies with the complexity of the task. For a blueberry pie eating contest, which is a relatively simple and straightforward task, your arousal should be relatively high to motivate quick eating and maintain energy levels. In contrast, for the 100-yard dash with the additional challenge of balancing an egg on a spoon and carrying a tray with glasses, which requires more precision and coordination, your arousal should be moderate or on the lower end to prevent getting too nervous, which might cause you to drop the egg or the glasses.

The Yerkes-Dodson law implies that simple tasks can benefit from higher arousal because the excitement can enhance performance without causing too much interference. Conversely, complex tasks like the 100-yard dash require a more careful balance of arousal to ensure that concentration and control are maintained.