Cognitive characteristics of phobias

• Cognitive chracteristics are concerned with the ways in which people process information. People with phobias process information about phobic stimuli differently from other objects or situations.
• A person with a phobia may pay selective attention to the phobic stimulus and can struggle to concentrate on other tasks. This was historically a survival advantage as it allows people to react quickly to a threat, but this is less useful when a fear is irrational.
• A person with a phobia may hold unfounded thoughts about phobic stimuli that cannot be easily explained and are not absed in reality. These beliefs may increase fear or pressure on a person with a phobia.
• The perceptions of a person with a phobia may be inaccurate and unrealistic (cognitive distortions).
• The cognitive model suggests that people with phobias experience intrusive thoughts about their phobia, leading to increased levels of anxiety. The more anxious they become, the more likely they are to avoid the situation, reinforcing the belief that the object/stimulus is dangerous.
• People with phobias often have negative automatic thoughts (NATS) - these are quick judgements made without thinking them through properly. NATS can lead to anxiety and depression.