There is research to support the above formula. Classical conditioning is used to account for the development of anxiety. These stimulus components of anxiety are aversive. Thus the person strengthens the habit of avoiding cars by negative reinforcement. Neuroses occur because of traumatic events experienced in childhood.
Traumas are aversive UCSs.
Anything that people do to reduce anxiety can be thought of as a process of negative reinforcement in behavioral terms. There are three kinds of conflict, which involve learned tendencies or habits of approaching or avoiding certain goals. It is important to know that the closer one is to a goal the stronger the tendency to approach or avoid. In this conflict there are two desirable goals or outcomes. The goals are structured, however, such that approaching one goal means going further away from the other desired goal.