characteristics

• DSM-5 categories of phobia

  • characterised by excessive fear and anxiety, triggered by an object, place or situation
  • latest version of the DSM recognises the following categories of phobia
  • Specific phobia – phobia of an object or a situation
  • Social anxiety (social phobia) – phobia of a social situation such as public speaking
  • Agoraphobia – phobia of being outside or in a public place.
• Behavioural characteristics of phobias

  • panic (as a response to the presence of the phobic stimulus)
  • avoidance (prevent coming into contact with the phobic stimulus)
  • endurance (chooses to remain in the presence of the phobic stimulus.)
• emotional characteristics of phobias

  • anxiety (prevents a person relaxing and makes it very difficult to experience any positive emotion)
  • fear (immediate and extremely unpleasant response)
  • Emotional response is unreasonable
• Cognitive characteristics of phobias

  • Selective attention to the phobic stimulus
  • Irrational beliefs
  • Cognitive distortions (weird perceptions of things)