Final answer:
The Puritan religion's strict codes fostered anxiety by imposing social virtue expectations, encouraging a vigilant lookout for devilry, particularly witchcraft, and promoting a stringent work ethic that pervaded the public and private spheres, often leading to tragic events such as the Salem witch trials.
Step-by-step explanation:
The strict codes of the Puritan religion likely fostered anxiety in the community due to the intense emphasis on social virtue and the fear of witchcraft. The Puritans believed they were elected by God to live virtuous lives and that this virtue must be evident in their work, family, and communal relations. This belief came with the pressure to conform to the demands of a society that was constantly watchful for deviations from strict moral codes, which could be interpreted as evidence of the devil's work. The responsibility of being ever-vigilant against witchcraft, which targeted mostly women and was a source of much anxiety and paranoia.
As Puritan leaders like Increase Mather and John Cotton promoted the necessity of practicing one's calling to the benefit of society as a whole, a strong work ethic was encouraged, often at the cost of personal well-being. This led to high expectations for individual behavior, both in public and private realms, creating a culture of scrutiny and potential repression. The witchcraft scare, notably the Salem witch trials, is a prominent example of how fears could culminate into social panic and result in tragic outcomes such as wrongful executions.
The Anti-Puritan Perspective also adds to the understanding of the limitations imposed by Puritanism, highlighting the narrow-mindedness and intellectual suppression that could arise from such a restrictive religious framework. This again underscores the potential for societal anxiety inherent in the Puritan way of life.