Which term is associated with the inverted-U arousal curve?

• A. State anxiety
• B. Cognitive state anxiety
• C. Arousal
• D. Inverted U theorist

Answer: (D)

The main idea here is how arousal levels influence performance in a curved pattern: as arousal rises, performance improves up to a point, then it drops if arousal becomes too high. The term most closely tied to this specific curve is the one that names the person who proposed it—the inverted U theorist. This is why that option fits best: exams often pair the curve with the theorist who described it, linking the shape to its originator. While arousal is the key factor described by the curve and anxiety terms relate to how arousal affects performance, the label that directly associates with the curve’s origin is the theorist.