PSY 215 Module Three Activity Template
Complete this template by replacing the bracketed text with the relevant information.
Part One
To use this template, you will first select one option from the list provided in the Module Three Activity
Guidelines and Rubric. Address each of the rubric criteria listed below with a minimum of 3 to 5
sentences per bullet. Support your answers with a credible source when necessary.
Describe the possible biological causes of your selection.
For my activity, I selected anxiety, specifically generalized anxiety disorder. Anxiety can be
categorized into five primary types: generalized, obsessive-compulsive, panic, post-traumatic
stress, and social phobia. Generalized anxiety disorder can sometimes be familial, but the exact
reasons why some individuals experience it and others do not remain unclear. Research
indicates that the heritability risk is around 30%, and other studies suggest that women are
twice as likely to experience generalized anxiety compared to men.
Describe the possible psychological causes of your selection.
Classical conditioning in response to various stimuli significantly contributes to many anxiety
disorders (Hooley et al., 2020). Psychological factors behind generalized anxiety often include
childhood trauma, changes in living situations, and experiences of verbal, sexual, physical, or
emotional abuse, as well as the death or loss of a loved one. Frequently, the trigger for
generalized anxiety stems from a fear of the unknown and a feeling of helplessness in
controlling the situation.
Describe the possible social and cultural causes of your selection.
Traumatic experiences can frequently result in anxiety later in life, particularly when those
experiences are re-encountered. For example, those who endured Hurricane Katrina and its
severe flooding may feel anxious when storms approach or when bad weather is forecasted.
Furthermore, anxiety can also be shaped by factors such as one's upbringing, educational
environment, and family background.
Describe the relationship between the biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors of
your selection.
Examining the connection between these three factors reveals that they all contribute to the
situation. An individual might have a family history of anxiety disorders, and their family
circumstances could exacerbate this anxiety without receiving the necessary mental health
support. As an adult, they may then encounter anxiety in college, and stress could arise from
their career or personal relationships.
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Part Two
Next, from the list, you will select two options that are known to share symptomatology or
behaviors. In a minimum of 3 to 5 sentences, explain the ways in which the behaviors associated
with the disorders overlap and discuss the potential diagnostic challenges presented by the
overlap.
After reviewing the disorders and their common symptoms, it becomes evident that anxiety and
depression frequently occur together. Each can worsen the other. Furthermore, anxiety and
panic disorders share similar symptoms, which can lead individuals to have panic attacks
triggered by anxiety. This overlap can make it challenging for mental health professionals to
accurately diagnose a patient, as someone might believe they are dealing with one disorder
when they may actually be experiencing another with comparable symptoms.
Hooley, J.M., Nock M.K., & Butcher J.N. (2019). Abnormal Psychology (Subscription). [MBS
Direct].
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