What kind of threats typically provoke fear and anxiety?

The correct choice highlights that threats which are known and usually external tend to provoke fear and anxiety in individuals. This is because when a person is aware of a specific external threat, it activates a more instinctual and immediate response. For instance, dangers in the environment, such as natural disasters or aggressive behavior from others, can create a tangible sense of fear. The known nature of these threats allows individuals to assess the risk and respond accordingly, which often heightens their anxiety.

In contrast, threats that are unknown or internal may not elicit the same level of fear because they lack the clarity that external threats provide. Unknown threats can lead to uncertainty, but because individuals may not have concrete details or experiences to relate to, the resulting fear might be more ambiguous. Similarly, while internal threats might correspond to feelings of insecurity or irrational fears, they might not engage the same survival instincts as identifiable external dangers do. Therefore, the clarity and presence of known external threats make them particularly potent in provoking fear and anxiety.