Anxiety

Question 1

Which social anxiety disorder does Dr Richard Linscott refer to in Lecture 9: Anxiety - Fiddling in People’s Heads?

Answer 1

Paruresis

Question 2

Paruresis can be defined as an inability to:

Answer 2

Urinate in public restrooms

Question 3

Name the 2 behavioural theories of anxiety as discussed in class:

Answer 3

Classical conditioning; operant conditioning

Question 4

In _____ conditioning, the feared stimulus/situation is associated with past negative experiences; in ____ conditioning, the feared stimulus/situation is learned through observing other people with the same fear:

Answer 4

Classical; operant

Question 5

Why is social anxiety disorder not a good explanation of paruresis?

Answer 5

It is too descriptive

Question 6

Fear and anxiety should not be used interchangeably - fear involves defensive ____ and anxiety involves defensive _____:

Answer 6

Withdrawal; approach

Question 7

Fear of a perceived threat involves a defensive withdrawl. This means:

Answer 7

The act of avoiding a threat

Question 8

Anxiety towards a perceived threat involves defensive approach. This means:

Answer 8

The act of safely approaching a threat

Question 9

What is the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) approach to anxiety, in the context of paruresis?

Answer 9

Fear of public urination activates the SNS

Question 10

What is the difference between paruresis and a “shyness” of public urination?

Answer 10

People with paruresis tend to avoid public urination, whereas people with shyness will still try to approach the situation.

Question 11

Name the 5 anxiety spectrum disorders referenced in class:

Answer 11

Specific phobias, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, agoraphobia, generalised anxiety disorder (GAD)

Question 12

Paruresis is one of the most uncommon phobias and boasts a low prevalence. True or false?

Answer 12

False - paruresis is one of the most common phobias, with a prevalence of about 15%.