Anxiety

Encyclopedia of Science, The, October, 2005

Anxiety is an unpleasant emotional state characterized by an often vague apprehension, uneasiness, or dread. Anxiety is often accompanied by physical sensations similar to those of fear such as perspiration, tightness of the chest, difficulty breathing or breathlessness, dry mouth, and headache. Unlike fear, in which the individual is usually aware of its cause, the cause of anxiety is often not clear.

Everyone experiences anxiety; it is a natural and healthy human response many theorists believe has evolved to warn us of impending dangers so that we might better cope with them. If the anxiety, however, seems to be excessive in strength or duration, or happens without sufficient objective reasons, it might be considered an unhealthy, possibly abnormal, response. There are numerous theories as to the causes and functions of anxiety. This entry will cover the four most extensive and influential theories: the existential, psychoanalytic, behavioral and learning , and ...