characteristics of phobias

• What are the behavioral characteristics of phobias?

  Panic, avoidance, and endurance
• What physiological response occurs during panic in phobias?

  Heightened physiological arousal
• What triggers heightened physiological arousal in panic?

  The hypothalamus increases sympathetic activity
• How does avoidance behavior affect a patient's life?

  It severely impacts daily functioning
• What is the consequence of avoidance behavior in phobias?

  Negative reinforcement of avoidance behavior
• What happens during endurance in phobias?

  Patient remains exposed to the stimulus
• What are the main emotional characteristics of phobias?

  Anxiety and unawareness of irrationality
• Why is phobic anxiety considered irrational?

  It is not proportionate to the threat
• What cognitive characteristics are associated with phobias?

  Selective attention, irrational beliefs, cognitive distortions
• What does selective attention in phobias refer to?

  Focus on the phobic stimulus despite anxiety
• How do irrational beliefs contribute to phobias?

  They cause unreasonable anxiety responses
• What are cognitive distortions in the context of phobias?

  Inaccurate perception of the phobic stimulus
• What is rectaphobia?

  A phobia of bottoms