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Updated: Aug 25, 2026

Using the Threat Probability Task to Assess Anxiety and Fear During Uncertain and Certain Threat
Published on: September 12, 2014
Temperament, anxiety, and the processing of threat-relevant stimuli
Christopher J Lonigan1, Michael W Vasey, Beth M Phillips
1Department of Psychology, Florida State University, Tallahasse, Florida 32306-1270, USA. lonigan@psy.fsu.edu
Abstract:
This article discusses converging evidence from developmental, clinical, and cognitive psychology suggesting that there is significant overlap between research findings on affect, temperament, and attentional processes associated with pathological anxiety. We offer a proposal for the integration of these 3 areas aimed at developing a more clear understanding of the developmental sequence and operative mechanisms in the dysregulation of negative affect and the development of symptoms of anxiety pathology. We review evidence for a model indicating that reactive and effortful temperamental processes, possibly mediated by an attentional bias toward threat-relevant information, interact to produce problems of dysregulated negative affect and elevated levels of pathological anxiety. This model may assist in understanding the development of anxiety disorders, identifying children at risk for such disorders, and selecting points of entry for both preventative and curative interventions.
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