Anxiety: Types of anxiety.

The idea

Anxiety is a negative emotional state of apprehension and worry, experienced when a performer perceives a situation as threatening. It is distinct from arousal, a general state of readiness, and stress, the perceived imbalance between demands and coping ability. AQA requires specific terminology to classify anxiety. Cognitive anxiety is the mental component, involving worrying thoughts and loss of concentration. Somatic anxiety is the physical component, characterised by a raised heart rate, sweating, and muscle tension. Anxiety is also classified by its duration and trigger: trait anxiety is a stable, innate personality characteristic where a person is generally prone to anxiety, whereas state anxiety is a temporary, situation-specific emotional reaction to a particular competitive moment.

What earns the marks

• Defines anxiety as a negative emotional state linked to apprehension and worry about a perceived threat.
• Distinguishes cognitive anxiety as the mental component, such as worrying thoughts and reduced concentration.
• Distinguishes somatic anxiety as the physical component, such as increased heart rate, sweating, and muscle tension.
• Defines trait anxiety as a stable, enduring personality characteristic predisposing a performer to worry.
• Defines state anxiety as a temporary, situation-specific reaction to a particular competitive event.
• Differentiates anxiety from arousal (general readiness) and stress (imbalance between demands and ability).

Common mistakes and how to put them right

• Using everyday terms instead of A-Level terminology.

  Put it right: Use 'cognitive' for mental symptoms and 'somatic' for physical symptoms.

• Confusing trait and state anxiety.

  Put it right: Trait is a permanent personality feature, while state is a temporary reaction to a specific situation.

• Treating anxiety and arousal as identical.

  Put it right: Arousal is general readiness or intensity, while anxiety is a negative emotional state.

Exam tips

• Learn a one-line definition for cognitive, somatic, trait, and state anxiety.
• For each type of anxiety, prepare a short scenario, such as a penalty taker before a shoot-out experiencing state and somatic anxiety.
• When a question asks you to identify a type of anxiety, check whether the scenario describes a stable personal tendency (trait) or a reaction to one specific event (state).