Expectancy–Value Theory of Anxiety: Overview and Implications

Abstract

This chapter outlines basic assumptions of the theory and discusses implications for anxiety/achievement relations and for social determinants of anxiety. It describes briefly some implications for prevention and therapy. The expectancy–value theory of anxiety implies that cognitive mediation of anxiety is just one of several ways in which emotions can arise. Two other modes of anxiety formation are genetically based anxiety and habitualized anxiety. Cognitive mediation of anxiety implies that situational perceptions do not trigger anxiety directly, but only after the situation has been appraised cognitively. Habitualized anxiety is sustained if the situation recurs without changes. Expectancies of the type imply that actions intended to prevent these negative events can be performed. Concerning personality determinants, expectancies and values are assumed to be influenced by enduring expectancy and valence beliefs stored in memory. By implication, distal influences on anxiety development may be mediated by building up or changing expectancy–value belief systems.