The 3 main theories of anxiety
A review of the explanations of how anxiety, a common psychological phenomenon, works.
Anxiety is a complex phenomenon with psychological and physiological components. It is linked to the visualization of negative events in the future. For example, an anxious subject who is about to play a game of chess will consider himself a loser before he has moved the first piece.
Anxiety theories are diversebut they all coincide in that the individuals who present it feel threatened in some way by everyday and harmless situations.
Current knowledge concerning theories of anxiety is advancing steadily. This progress is largely due to the many research studies that have been generated to date and especially those that are still open. Most studies are designed to test and create effective treatment approaches.
Theories of anxiety
Let's look at some of the theories of anxiety that exist. To a large extent these contributions have focused on the relationship between information processing and emotion..
Although a varied number of theories of anxiety have been postulated, there are three basic orientations:
- Bioinformational image and affect processing, by Carl Lange.
- Bower's concept of associative network.
- Beck's schema concept.
These three theories of anxiety are based on the belief that there are cognitive structures concerning anxiety disorders. Let us analyze their characteristics.
1. Emotion and image: Bioinformational processing
For bioinformation theory, it is not the way in which information is stored that is relevant, but rather the types of information stored and the results produced by the activation of that information. the types of information stored and the results produced by the activation of this information.. It assumes that all information processed by the human mind is encoded in the brain abstractly and at the same time.
Specifically, bioinformation theory points out that the basis of thought is based on logical relationships that could be expressed through propositional logic formulations. The propositions are grouped into psychic networks, the networks constitute an associative structure or associative memory of emotion, which constitutes a kind of "affective program". In the psychological treatment of phobias, the emotional memory is generally the emotional memory is activatedthrough a verbal method.
2. Concept of associative network (Bower)
Emotions are represented in memory in the form of units or nodes, in the form of an associative network (semantic network). The nodes are related to other types of information: relevant situations to facilitate the emotion, visceral reactions, memories of pleasant or unpleasant events, etc.
The activation of an emotional node facilitates accessibility to mood-congruent material (mood congruency hypothesis).
Memorized material is best remembered when there is coupling between the conditions under which it was originally learned and the conditions under which it is intended to be remembered (mood dependence hypothesis).
Biases operate at different levels of processing: attention, interpretation and memory. Experimental data tend to indicate that depression is primarily associated with processing biases and not with memory biases.
3. Schema concept (Beck)
Bower and Beck have in common that they both believe that in patients with some anxiety disorder, there must be a dysfunctional cognitive structure that leads them to certain biases in all aspects of information processing.. They developed their theory thinking more about depression than anxiety.
Thus, for Beck there is an unadaptive cognitive schema that keeps anxiety high when applied to analyze and interpret reality. However, the reasons why the prevalence is maintained in a certain way are not sufficiently explained.
Therapies associated with this psychological disorder
Some of the most effective therapies for anxiety disorders include
1. Cognitive restructuring
Cognitive restructuring is a general strategy of cognitive-behavioral therapies. Its objective is to modify the way of interpretation and subjective evaluation of the subjectthrough dialogue and maieutics.
2. Expository techniques.
When the anxious subject is afraid of speaking in public, he may miss classes to avoid giving an exposition in front of his fellow students. The objective of these techniques is that by means of repeated expositions and controlled by the therapist, the subject gradually acquires the ability to speak in public, the subject gradually acquires control over the anxiety, until it disappears..
3. Systematic desensitization.
Instead of immediately confronting the subject with the feared situation or object, treatment and exposure are initiated with a situation that is only mildly threatening, in an environment controlled by the therapist, and progressing step by step to the target.
Going to therapy
Going to therapy will always be the best way to overcome anxiety or learn to control it. Science shows that psychotherapy is the best option to help the patient; it provides them with techniques to relax and helps them to see situations from a healthy approach.
Bibliographical references:
- Nuss, P (2015). "Anxiety disorders and GABA neurotransmission: a disturbance of modulation". Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat 11: 165-75.
- Rapee R. M. Heimberg R.G.. (1997). "A cognitive-behavioral model of anxiety in social phobia". Behaviour Research and Therapy. 35 (8): 741-56.
- Rosen JB, S. J. (1998). "From normal fear to pathological anxiety". Psychological Review. 105 (2): 325–50.
(Updated at Apr 13 / 2024)