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Correlating the basic processes of 'adaptive stabilization' (homeostasis) with analytical concepts, a physiological shock theory of anxiety is introduced as an operational hypothesis. Stress of any kind produces two systemic reactions, shock, which is the approach of death in natural ways, and the homoeostatic reaction (shock defence), due mainly to endocrine activity (adrenals, hypophysis). Shock from psychic over-stimulation is the consequence of a psychic traumatic situation (rupture of the stimulus barrier) when the homoeostatic defence functions inadequately.
Anxiety is defined as an anticipatory reproduction of traumatic situations experienced in early infancy, i.e. of the shock reaction which, owing to the immaturity of the postnatal organism, is physiological in the postnatal period and, to a lesser extent (paralleling ego maturation), throughout the early infantile period. The concept of anxiety as an anticipatory reproduction of shock leads, by means of a detailed investigation into the processes connected with physiological shock, to a surprising clarification of a number of basic psychic phenomena such as rage, fright, pavor nocturnus, repression, depersonalization, depression, mania, patterns of anxiety, etc. They are represented as partial or entire anticipatory reproductions of biological reactions which, at the beginning of life, guaranteed survival by warding off shock.
As muscular action intensifies the homoeostatic response, increased muscular activity, the prerequisite of fight and flight, is seen as a physiological defence mechanism against impending shock (hypothalamic defence). The increased motility which invalidates the threat of impending shock in the infant is the biological basis for the rage reaction, the prototype of aggressive activity. Fright corresponds to a transitory shock reaction, elicited by too sudden over-stimulation, which is immediately followed by a violent defence reaction (palpitation of the heart, heavy breathing).
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