A child may be conditioned to associate certain forms of behavior with punishment. Punishment following the child's attempts to satisfy his biological drives may be part of this conditioning. The effects persist into adult life. The thought of acting upon basic motives, even though they are no longer forbidden, arouses vague fears of punishment, hence anxie- ty. For example, the child who is always forced by his parents to be completely silent in front of adults may, in later life, feel anxious when required to speak in public.
People often experience anxiety in frustrating or conflict situations.
Whenever an individual perceives a situation as harmful, anxiety is likely to develop. The source of frustration may be the individual himself. We tend to be especially anxious when we feel that it is our stupidity, our inadequacy, or our indecisive- ness that cause the frustration. Thus, the frustration of goal-attainment means more than the fact that a particular need is not satisfied. It also acts as a painful threat to the individual's self-esteem and prestige.