A-STATE: A transitory emotional state that varies in intensity and fluctuates over time. It is characterized by subjective, consciously perceived feelings of tension & apprehension, and activation of the autonomic nervous system.

A-TRAIT: Relatively stable individual differences in anxiety proneness. That is, differences in disposition to perceive a wide range of situations as dangerous or threatening and to respond to such threats with A-state reactions. People higher in A-trait tend to perceive a larger no. Of situations as dangerous and threatening and respond with A-states of greater intensity.

There is also a distinction between STRESS (or Stressors), which refer to objective properties of situations that would be defined as dangerous by consensual validation of most people versus THREAT, which refers to the PERCEPTION or appraisal of a situation as threatening.

SITUATION->PERSONALITY DISPOSITION->PERCEPTION->EMOTIONAL RESPONSE

STRESS--------->low A-TRAIT------------------------>low THREAT--> small A-STATE

STRESS--------->high A-TRAIT----------------------->high THREAT--> large A-STATE

Research suggests that A-trait appears to be relevant to only those stressful situations in which an individual’s personal adequacy is being evaluated. Fear of failure is a major characteristic of high A-trait people, who have a poor sense of personal adequacy. Research indicates that A-trait is not relevant to stressful situations that involve physical harm.

Study the diagram on p. 43 Of the Spielburger chapter. If I could draw with the computer, I would reproduce it here. It is a good example of a feedback system. We will be studying other feedback systems of personality during the semester.