what are the apparent symptoms of anxiety in terms of physiological, behavioral, and cognitive indicator? if both a parent and a child experience anxiety in similar situations, how would you account for the influences of heredity, preparedness, and vicarious conditioning

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/anxiety/DS01187/DSECTION=symptoms

The apparent symptoms of anxiety can vary, but they typically manifest through physiological, behavioral, and cognitive indicators. Let's explore each of these categories.

1. Physiological Indicators: Anxiety often triggers a range of physical symptoms which may include rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, muscle tension, sweating, dizziness, digestive problems (such as stomachaches), headaches, and fatigue. These bodily responses are part of the body's fight-or-flight response to a perceived threat.

2. Behavioral Indicators: Anxious individuals may display certain behavioral changes. These can include restlessness, irritability, difficulty concentrating, sleep disturbances (such as insomnia or nightmares), avoidance of triggering situations, excessive seeking of reassurance, compulsive behaviors, and increased substance use to cope with anxiety.

3. Cognitive Indicators: Anxiety can also affect an individual's thoughts and cognition. Common cognitive indicators of anxiety include excessive worrying, racing thoughts, intrusive or negative thoughts, difficulty in decision-making, self-doubt, catastrophizing (exaggerating the potential negative outcomes of situations), and hypervigilance (constant scanning for threats).

Now, let's explore the potential influences of heredity, preparedness, and vicarious conditioning when both a parent and a child experience anxiety in similar situations:

1. Heredity: Anxiety disorders can have a genetic component, meaning that they may run in families. If both a parent and a child experience anxiety in similar situations, it could suggest a hereditary influence. Genetic factors can make an individual more susceptible to developing an anxiety disorder, but it does not guarantee it. Additional environmental factors also play a role.

2. Preparedness: The preparedness theory suggests that individuals are biologically predisposed to develop fears or anxieties related to certain threats due to evolutionary adaptation. For example, humans may be more readily inclined to develop fears of heights, spiders, or enclosed spaces because these were once real dangers in our evolutionary history. If both a parent and a child share anxieties related to specific threats, it can be explained by preparedness theory.

3. Vicarious Conditioning: Anxiety can be learned through vicarious conditioning, which involves observing others' fearful or anxious reactions to specific situations and adopting similar responses. If both a parent and a child have similar anxious responses in certain situations, it could be due to the child learning from their parent's anxious behavior or being exposed to similar triggering experiences.

It's important to note that these influences (heredity, preparedness, and vicarious conditioning) often interact and work together, making it challenging to determine the exact contribution of each factor.