Which type of anxiety is described as an enduring, inherited tendency?

• A. State anxiety
• B. Generalized anxiety
• C. Trait anxiety
• D. Situational anxiety

Answer: (C)

The idea here is that some anxiety is a stable, long-lasting tendency that a person brings with them, rather than a reaction to a single moment. This is trait anxiety: a general propensity to feel anxious across many situations, remaining relatively constant over time and often linked to genetic factors. It differs from state anxiety, which is a temporary feeling triggered by a specific moment or situation, and from situational anxiety, which is anxiety tied to a particular event. Generalized anxiety describes persistent worry across many areas of life, but trait anxiety specifically captures that enduring, inherited pattern of anxious responding.