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A cognitive approach to trait anxiety can account for many phenomena (e.g. failures of concordance). According to the four‐factor theory, the experience of anxiety depends on the processing of four sources of information: external stimuli; internal physiological stimuli; one's own behaviour; and one's own cognitions (e.g. worries about the future). High‐anxious individuals (high in trait anxiety; low in defensiveness) have cognitive biases leading them to exaggerate the threateningness of these four sources of information. Individuals with a repressive coping style (low in trait anxiety; high in defensiveness) have cognitive biases leading them to minimize the threateningness of these four sources of information. Theoretical implications for major anxiety disorders are discussed. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.