Characteristics of Phobias

• What are the behavioural characteristics of phobias?

  • PANIC - e.g. crying, screaming, running
  • AVOIDANCE - Making the conscious effort to avoid the phobic stimulus, e.g. not going to a park incase there are dogs
• What are the emotional characteristics of phobias?

  • FEAR - A strong immediate unpleasant response
  • ANXIETY - a long-term unpleasant state of high arousal, that prevents relaxation. feeling "on-edge"
• What are the cognitive characteristics of phobias?

  • SELECTIVE ATTENTION - they will focus on the phobic stimulus and nothing else
  • IRRATIONAL BELIEFS - They may have a faulty scheme about the phobic stimulus , eg someone with social phobia may think everyone is judging them.
  • COGNITIVE DISTORTIONS - unrealistic thinking about the phobic stimulus