Which statement best describes the two forms of anxiety?

Which statement best describes the two forms of anxiety?

• A. Generalized anxiety and phobic anxiety
• B. Specific anxiety and generalized anxiety
• C. Acute anxiety and chronic anxiety
• D. Trait anxiety and state anxiety

Answer: (D)

In this area, anxiety is seen as having a stable, long-term aspect and a temporary, moment-to-moment aspect. The two forms described are trait anxiety and state anxiety. Trait anxiety is a person’s general tendency to perceive situations as threatening and to feel anxious across many different contexts; it’s relatively stable over time. State anxiety, on the other hand, is the temporary feeling of anxiety in a specific moment or situation and can rise or fall depending on circumstances, such as performing under pressure or facing a challenging task. A person with high trait anxiety may be more prone to higher state anxiety in stressful moments, but state anxiety is the fluctuating, situational experience, while trait anxiety is the enduring characteristic. Other pairings mix different ideas (disorder types, duration, or focus) and don’t capture this stable-versus-situational distinction.

In this area, anxiety is seen as having a stable, long-term aspect and a temporary, moment-to-moment aspect. The two forms described are trait anxiety and state anxiety. Trait anxiety is a person’s general tendency to perceive situations as threatening and to feel anxious across many different contexts; it’s relatively stable over time. State anxiety, on the other hand, is the temporary feeling of anxiety in a specific moment or situation and can rise or fall depending on circumstances, such as performing under pressure or facing a challenging task. A person with high trait anxiety may be more prone to higher state anxiety in stressful moments, but state anxiety is the fluctuating, situational experience, while trait anxiety is the enduring characteristic. Other pairings mix different ideas (disorder types, duration, or focus) and don’t capture this stable-versus-situational distinction.