Six-year-old Patrick was very excited and curious when hisparents took him to the circus for the first time. However, when the clowns climbed over the barrier and started playing trickson some of the children nearby, Patrick became visibly upset.Patrick's initial curiosity and his later fear and apprehension in this situation are best explained by:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Arousal theory explains Patrick's behavior as it suggests that people are motivated to maintain an optimal level of arousal. Patrick's initial excitement was due to increased arousal from the new experience, but when the clowns got too close, his arousal level became too high, leading to fear and apprehension.

Six-Year-Old Patrick Was Very Excited and Curious When Hisparents Took