56 COGNITIVE THEORY AND RESEARCH ON ANXIETY
The present formulation places a much greater emphasis on the automatic, invol-
untary cognitive processes involved in the initial fear response. Although the original
cognitive model recognized that some of the mechanisms of anxiety were more innate
and automatic, the current model provides a more elaborated and fine- grained descrip-
tion of the automatic cognitive processes in anxiety. As the initial fear response, these
automatic processes, such as preconscious attentional threat bias, immediate threat
evaluation, and inhibitory processing of safety cues, are the catalyst for the more pro-
tracted state of anxiety that follows. Activation of threat- related schemas remains a core
feature of the cognitive model of anxiety but is now seen as responsible for maintain-
ing an automatic threat- processing bias and its negative consequences. Thus schematic
change is still viewed as crucial to the therapeutic effectiveness of cognitive therapy for
the anxiety disorders.
Beck et al. (1985) focused much of their original discussion on the conscious, elabo-
rative cognitive processes and structures of anxiety. The present model offers further
clarification of the role of these elaborative, strategic processes in the persistence of
anxiety. Activation of secondary, elaborative reappraisal processes, such as a conscious
evaluation of one’s coping resources, search for safety cues, attempts at more construc-
tive or reflective thinking, and worry about and deliberate reappraisal of threat, deter-
mine the persistence of an anxious state. If a person concludes from this elaborative
processing that a significant personal threat or danger is highly probable and her ability
to establish a sense of safety through effective coping is minimal, than a state of per-
sistent anxiety will ensue. On the other hand, anxiety will be reduced or eliminated if
the perceived probability and/or severity of threat are lowered, increased confidence in
adaptive coping is established, and a sense of personal safety is restored. Based on this
model, cognitive therapy focuses primarily on modification of these secondary, elabo-
rative cognitive processes through specific cognitive and behavioral interventions that
shift the patient’s perspective from one of possible imminent threat to one of probable
personal safety. A change in secondary elaborative processing will reduce the propensity
table 2.6. (c o n t .)
Hypothesis 10: Detrimental cognitive compensatory strategies
In high anxiety worry has a greater adverse effect by enhancing threat salience, whereas worry
in low anxiety states is more likely to be associated with positive effects such as the initiation of
effective problem solving. In addition, other cognitive strategies aimed at reducing threatening
thoughts, such as thought suppression, distraction, and thought replacement, are more likely to
exhibit paradoxical effects (i.e., rebound, increased negative affect, less perceived control) in high
than in low anxious states.
Hypothesis 11: Elevated personal vulnerability
Highly anxious individuals will exhibit lower self-confidence and greater perceived helplessness in
situations relevant to their selective threats compared to nonanxious individuals.
Hypothesis 12: Enduring threat-related beliefs
Individuals vulnerable to anxiety can be distinguished from nonvulnerable persons by their
preexisting maladaptive schemas (i.e., beliefs) about particular threats or dangers and associated
personal vulnerability that remain inactive until triggered by relevant life experiences or stressors.