The manifestations of anxiety do not only occur at the level of thought, they do not correspond only to internal processes.
In reality, a feeling like anxiety can be expressed both mentally and physiologically and behaviorally.
With this approach, the American psychologist Peter Lang proposed in 1968 the three dimensional theory of anxiety, also known as the triple response system theory of anxiety. Next, let’s go a little deeper into it.
What is the triple anxiety response system?
Lang’s model is based on the author’s research around anxiety and emotional disorders. He observed that, during systematic desensitization sessions to treat phobia disorders, measures of cognitive, behavioral and physiological responses in patients were disparate, They did not correlate with each other. nor did they occur with the same intensity, they could be totally independent, occurring only on one level and not on others.
Thus, he established the triple response system model, according to which anxiety is manifested through a cognitive level, a physiological level, and a motor or behavioral level.
Cognitive response
It refers to the feelings and thoughts that the person generates in the presence of the stimulus that produces anxiety. Among others:
- Fear
- Fear
- Worry
- Unsafety
- Lack of control
- Negative thoughts…
Motor or behavioral response
Included in this response are the movements or actions that the subject performs when subjected to the stimulus that causes anxiety. They have been divided into two types:
- Direct: those that are observable, but involuntary: for example, tremor, tics, stuttering, onychophagia (nail biting), etc.
- Indirect: those that are related to avoidance behaviors to escape discomfort, which are carried out voluntarily. They usually appear in response to the subject’s thoughts or physiological alterations, the other two components of this system. Sometimes, they lead to the development of complex behaviors, such as large amounts of food, abuse of alcohol, drugs, etc.
physiological responses
The physical and bodily symptoms produced by anxiety are assigned to this plane, a consequence of the increased activity of our nervous system. For example:
- Sweating
- Tachycardias
- Muscle tension
- Migraines and other headaches
- Digestive problems
- Rapid breathing, difficulty breathing
- Alterations in the immune system
In the long term, all of these manifestations can trigger other problems such as insomnia, muscle contractures, gastrointestinal problems, erectile dysfunction, etc.
The usefulness of the triple anxiety response system
This three-dimensional model has been very useful in the diagnosis, since it allows a differential diagnosis to be made with greater precision and each of the systems to be evaluated separately. Based on Lang’s theory, different tests and scales have been developed to evaluate anxiety.
Furthermore, this model also has influence on the interventionsince it offers the necessary clues to determine the most appropriate therapy techniques for each case.
Regarding the process of follow-upThanks to this theory, the patient can learn to identify and process their responses to anxiety, which can give them greater control.
.