A learned response involving nausea and sweating palms before boarding a plane is best described as what type of anxiety?

The scenario described—experiencing nausea and sweating palms before boarding a plane—illustrates the concept of signal anxiety. Signal anxiety refers to a specific reaction triggered by a certain stimulus or situation that has been associated with anxiety-provoking experiences in the past. In this case, the anticipated event of flying has become a conditioned response, leading to physical symptoms of anxiety.

The body responds to the perceived threat or anxiety-inducing situation, which is why symptoms such as nausea and sweating may arise. This can happen when a person has previously encountered a distressing experience related to flying, linking the act of boarding a plane with discomfort or fear. Thus, the learned response signifies that signal anxiety is the accurate description of the anxiety experienced in this scenario.

Other types of anxiety do not appropriately encompass the specific learned nature of the response linked to a particular trigger, thus reinforcing that signal anxiety is the most fitting understanding of the situation.