Psychology 2042A/B Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Sympathetic Nervous System, Panic Disorder, Anxiety Disorder

• School: Western University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: Psychology 2042A/B
• Professor: Jeff St.Pierre

Document Summary

Anxiety: a mood state characterized by strong negative emotion and bodily symptoms of tension in anticipation of future danger or misfortune. Anxiety disorders involve experiencing excessive and debilitating anxieties; occur in many forms. Many children with anxiety disorders suffer from more than one type. Moderate amounts of anxiety helps us think and act more effectively. The neurotic paradox is a self-defeating behavior pattern - fear with no threat. Immediate reaction to perceived danger or threat aimed at escaping potential harm. Physical system: the brain sends messages to the sympathetic nervous system, fight/flight response. Cognitive system: activation leads to feelings of apprehension, nervousness, difficulty concentrating, and panic. Behavioral system: aggression is coupled with a desire to escape the threatening situation. Anxiety: future-oriented mood state: may occur in absence of realistic danger. Fear: present-oriented emotional reaction: occurs in the face of a current danger and marked by a strong escape tendency.