Qualitative characteristics in the learning process associated with anxiety.

Abstract

"Anxiety is conceptualized as an 'acquired reaction-sensitivity in individuals suffering from impaired self-esteem to overreact with fear to any anticipated adjustive situation that contains a further threat to self-esteem.' It is the novel elements of an unfamiliar learning problem which constitute the threat to the anxious individual, and instigate a habitual, anxiety-reducing response set to avoid the improvisation necessary for successful learning." Experimental evidence is presented which supports this point of view. 44 references. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved)