Which term describes a temporary emotional response to a threatening situation?

• A. Arousal
• B. State anxiety
• C. Somatic state anxiety
• D. Cognitive state anxiety

Answer: (B)

When a person reacts to a threatening situation with a temporary mix of worry, nervousness, and unease, that immediate emotional response is described as state anxiety. It’s situational and short-lived, tied to the specific moment or event, unlike a more general tendency to feel anxious in many situations (trait anxiety).

Arousal is the general level of physiological activation that can accompany any emotional state, not the label for the feeling itself. Somatic state anxiety refers specifically to the physical symptoms of anxiety (like a racing heart or sweating), which are part of the experience but not the overall description. Cognitive state anxiety focuses on the mental side—worries and negative thoughts—also just components of the broader state anxiety experience. The term that best captures the immediate, situation-specific emotional response is state anxiety.