Characteristics of phobias

• What is a phobia defined as?

  An excessive fear of an object or situation
• What distinguishes specific phobia from social phobia?

  Specific phobia is fear of an object or situation
• What is agoraphobia?

  Fear of situations where escape is difficult
• What are the three main behavioral characteristics of phobias?

  • Panic
  • Avoidance
  • Endurance
• What does panic in phobias involve?

  Behaviors like crying, screaming, or running away
• How does avoidance manifest in phobias?

  By going to great lengths to avoid the stimulus
• What is anxiety in the context of phobias?

  An unpleasant state of high arousal
• How is fear defined in relation to phobias?

  Immediate response to the phobic stimulus
• What is selective attention in phobias?

  Focusing intensely on the phobic stimulus
• What are irrational beliefs in the context of phobias?

  Exaggerated beliefs about the danger posed
• What are cognitive distortions related to phobias?

  Perceiving the phobic stimulus unrealistically
• How does someone with a fear of spiders exhibit selective attention?

  They cannot focus on anything but the spider
• What irrational belief might someone with a fear of spiders hold?

  That the spider might seriously harm them
• How might cognitive distortions affect a person's view of a spider?

  They may see it as more dangerous than it is