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Updated: Aug 12, 2026

Using the Threat Probability Task to Assess Anxiety and Fear During Uncertain and Certain Threat
Published on: September 12, 2014
[Cool, clever, established--variations on anxiety defenses in today's society]
1Abteilung für Psychosoziale Medizin, Universitätsspital Zürich.
Abstract:
Anxiety is a psycho-biological phenomenon, psychologically manifested in feelings of constrainment, threat, and vulnerability; and physically in evidence of increased sympathetic tone. Three phenomenologically different forms of anxiety can be distinguished (real anxiety, existential anxiety, neurotic anxiety). Existential anxiety is based on four themes: self-development, self-submission, change and finality. Anxiety and anxiety defences are a part of human existence. Every culture develops its own rituals for defending against anxiety. Three variations of anxiety defence are described which typically appear in affluent societies: coolness, cleverness and happiness. These strategies are, depending on the situation, sensible and advantageous in dealing with, perceiving, overcoming and defending against existential anxieties.
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