Psych650 Wk 2 Discussion Understanding Anxiety Through A Theoretical Lens

Most people will experience some form of anxiety at some point in their life. While this doesn’t necessarily indicate they have an anxiety disorder, it doesn’t minimize the impact of those anxious feelings. In this discussion, you will explore theoretical perspectives and models for understanding anxiety, to deepen your insight into the causes, lived experiences, and approaches to treatment. Before completing this discussion, do the following: • Review the models in Ch. 2, “Models of Psychopathology,” of your textbook to recall key frameworks for explaining and treating psychopathology. • Select a theoretical model (e.g., psychodynamic, behavioral, humanistic, cognitive) and one of the following anxiety disorders to use in the discussion: • Generalized anxiety disorder • Phobias • Social anxiety disorder • Panic disorder • Separation anxiety disorder Respond to the following: • How can you explain your selected anxiety disorder through the lens of your chosen theoretical model? • Select either the biopsychosocial model or the cognitive behavioral model to explain how anxiety disorders develop and persist, and respond to one of the following: • Biopsychosocial model: How do biological predispositions, psychological coping strategies, and social context interact to either protect against or contribute to anxiety disorders? • Cognitive behavioral model: How do maladaptive thoughts (e.g., catastrophic thinking), avoidance behaviors, and reinforcement patterns lead to the onset and continuation of anxiety symptoms? • Of these 2 models (biopsychosocial and cognitive behavioral), which do you believe is more aligned with your perspective on anxiety? Why?