Motivation and efficiency are inversely correlated
the verdict
REFUTED
the evidence says no
confidence 13/100
The claim that motivation and efficiency are inversely correlated is refuted by psychological and neuroscientific research, which instead demonstrates an inverted-U-shaped relationship (the Yerkes-Dodson law) where performance peaks at moderate levels of arousal and motivation.
Evidence against · 6
When less is more
2004 · cited by 127
Discusses how the classical Yerkes-Dodson framework links arousal and performance via an inverted-U shape rather than a simple inverse correlation.
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More against · 5
Caffeine and Cognitive Performance: The Nonlinear Yerkes–Dodson Law
1997 · cited by 62
Supports the inverted-U relationship between physiological arousal and cognitive performance.
Decoding a Neurofeedback-Modulated Cognitive Arousal State to Investigate Performance Regulation by the Yerkes-Dodson Law
2021 · cited by 24
Demonstrates an inverted-U relationship between cognitive arousal states and performance.
Adaptive arousal regulation: Pharmacologically shifting the peak of the Yerkes–Dodson curve by catecholaminergic enhancement of arousal
2024 · cited by 11
Confirms that performance typically peaks at moderate arousal levels rather than continuously decreasing as arousal increases.
The vagus nerve: a cornerstone for mental health and performance optimization in recreation and elite sports.
2025 · cited by 6
Notes that performance models are rooted in the Yerkes-Dodson law where moderate states optimize performance.
An inverted U-shaped relationship between chronic stress and the motivation to expend effort for reward
2025 · cited by 4
Finds an inverted-U-shaped relationship between stress/arousal states and motivation indicators rather than a simple inverse correlation.