What term describes mental and physical readiness to perform?

• A. Drive theory
• B. Arousal
• C. State anxiety
• D. Inverted U theorist

Answer: (B)

Arousal describes mental and physical readiness to perform. It’s the overall level of activation in the nervous system that makes you feel alert, energized, and prepared to act. When arousal is at an optimal level you’re focused and ready; too little arousal you feel sluggish, too much arousal you might become tense or scattered, which can hinder performance. The inverted U shows how performance tends to improve with increasing arousal up to a peak point, then decline as arousal becomes excessive. The other terms refer to specific ideas: state anxiety is about worry and nervousness, and a drive theory or an inverted U theorist name relates to theories of how arousal affects performance, not the readiness itself.