Abnormal Psychology

Anxiety Disorders 307

control and decrease anxiety; these behaviors temporarily lessen anxiety and are

thus reinforced. Yet the thoughts cannot be fully controlled and become obsessive;

the obsessions and compulsions impair functioning and can affect relationships as

well. The person with OCD may expect family members and friends to conform to

compulsive guidelines; these people and others can become frustrated and dismayed

at the patient’s rituals and obsessions (social factors). Figure 7.15 illustrates these

factors and feedback loops.

7.15 • Feedback Loops in Action: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Figure 7.15g 7 5

Mental Processes and

Mental Contents

Hypervigilance for “threats”

Better memory for threat-

related stimuli

Attempt to control

“unacceptable” thoughts

Affect

Fear

Anxiety

Behavior

Negative reinforcement

of compulsive behaviors

Stressful Life Events

Severe stressors

Gender/Culture

Family

Family members’

frustration and

resentment

Genetics

Inherited

predisposition to

an anxiety disorder

Neural Communication

NeuroPsychoSocial

Serotonin

Brain Systems

Basal ganglia

Frontal lobes

Thalamus

NeuroPsychoSocial NeuroPsychoSocial

Cultural influence on

specific content of

symptoms