Registered Practical Nurse (RPN) Practice Test

Which of the following statements about Freud's theory of anxiety is correct?

1. Anxiety results from unexpressed desires

2. Anxiety can be entirely avoided

3. Anxiety is a sign of weakness

4. Anxiety is unrelated to desires

The correct answer is: Anxiety results from unexpressed desires

Freud's theory suggests that anxiety is a result of internal conflict, particularly conflicts between the id (which houses our primal desires) and the superego (which represents moral standards and ideals). According to Freud, when these desires are unexpressed or repressed due to societal expectations or personal morals, they can lead to anxiety. This internal struggle creates a sense of unease as the individual grapples with these opposing forces. Thus, the connection between unexpressed desires and the manifestation of anxiety is a fundamental concept in Freud's psychological framework. The other statements do not align with Freud's perspective on anxiety. The idea that anxiety can be entirely avoided contradicts the notion that it is an inherent part of human psychology. Anxiety being a sign of weakness altogether undermines the complexity of human emotions and experiences that Freud explored. Finally, the assertion that anxiety is unrelated to desires ignores the significant role that internal conflicts and unfulfilled wants play in the development of anxious feelings in Freud's conceptualization.