Memory,emotional processing,and anxiety: A critique

This article explores evidence for an emotional processing view of the role of memory in anxiety disorders. It is argued that Lang (1977) and Foa and Kozak’s (1985) emotional processing hypothesis is adequate to account for mechanisms involved in most anxiety syndromes, but is less suitable for explaining persistent fear behavior in Panic Disorder and Generalized Anxiety Disorder. An alternative explanation for these disorders is provided.