Final answer:
Obsessions are uncontrollable thoughts causing anxiety, whereas compulsions are repetitive behaviors aimed at reducing anxiety. Freud's theory of ego defense mechanisms, like repression, helps manage this anxiety. Anxiety disorders, including OCD, are prevalent, and understanding their psychological underpinnings is essential.
Step-by-step explanation:
The repeated and uncontrollable irrational thoughts that cause anxiety are known as obsessions, which differ from the repetitive behaviors or mental acts that are performed to reduce anxiety, known as compulsions. According to Sigmund Freud, when an individual experiences anxiety, the ego defense mechanisms are triggered to reduce that anxiety. For instance, repression serves as a defense mechanism by which anxiety-inducing thoughts are pushed out of conscious awareness, much like turning up the radio to drown out the noise of a malfunctioning car.
Anxiety disorders, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), are a significant health issue in the United States, with a considerable portion of the population affected each year. Underlying these disorders are complex brain-behavior relationships and psychological processes that impact how anxiety is experienced and managed by individuals.