ABSTRACT
Developments in cognitive and emotion theory suggest that anxiety plays a rather central role in negative emotions. This chapter reviews findings in the area of anxiety and depression, helplessness, locus of control, explanatory style, animal learning, biology, parenting, attachment theory, and childhood stress and resilience to articulate a model of the environmental influences on the development of anxiety. Historically, studies of childhood and adult anxiety and depression have been characterized by a discontinuity between major theoretical frameworks, methodologies, and research paradigms particular to each area. Evidence from a number of sources suggests that, when defined in such a manner, anxiety may actually be a common component of both anxiety disorders and depressive disorders. In light of the present model relating control and anxiety, the general contrast between evidence for a mediational model in early childhood and a moderational model for late childhood and adulthood offers a useful conceptual framework.
