Anxiety in the teaching of mathematics and science in the Malaysian schools

Abstract

Horwitz and Young (1991) define anxiety as a combination of feelings including tension, fear, anxiouness and apprehension that trigger the nervous system. They believe that anxiety would make it difficult for certain people to achieve success especially in the learning of a foreign language. They categorized it as specific anxiety reaction when the anxiety is restricted to the learning of a language. Psychologist used the term specific anxiety reaction to differrentiate those who are suffering from anxiety in different situation compared to those who are suffering from anxiety in a specific situation. Researchers like Tobias (1978) and Mallow (1901) found that specific anxiety is related to anxiety situation, for example, when talking an examination in academic subjects such as Mathematics and Science.