Which term denotes repetitive behaviors driven by anxiety?

• A. Compulsions
• B. Phobias
• C. Delusions
• D. Illusions

Answer: (A)

Repetitive behaviors performed to relieve the anxiety caused by intrusive thoughts are called compulsions. In obsessive-compulsive patterns, obsessions trigger distress, and the person carries out these rituals—like washing, checking, counting, or repeating actions—to reduce that anxiety or prevent a feared outcome. The behavior is not about enjoyment; it’s about temporary relief, often becoming time-consuming and impairing daily functioning. By contrast, phobias involve intense fear and avoidance of a specific object or situation; delusions are fixed false beliefs held despite evidence; illusions are misperceptions of real external stimuli. So the term that best describes these anxiety-driven, repetitive actions is compulsions.