What is the strengths and weaknesses of arousal theory?

Answer 1

Arousal theory suggests that individuals are motivated to maintain an optimal level of arousal, which varies by person and situation. A strength of this theory is its applicability across various contexts, explaining behaviors from thrill-seeking to performance in tasks. However, a weakness lies in its oversimplification of complex human motivations, as it may not adequately account for emotional, cognitive, and social factors influencing behavior. Additionally, the subjective nature of optimal arousal makes it difficult to measure and generalize across different individuals.