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. The induced anxiety is likely to cause still further blocking of the person's effort to attain a goal. Frustration, failure, and anxiety are thus a vicious circle.
Situations involving conflict are also likely to produce anxiety.
Conflict be- tween the motive of sexual gratification and the motive to live up to one's standards of right and wrong may result in anxiety. Society teaches us that we should not be angry or hostile. Feelings of hostility, therefore, become associat- ed with fears of what might happen if we expressed these feelings. These vague fears are accompanied by guilt for even possessing such feelings. Thus, anxiety is an almost inevitable by-product of society's requirements.