cognitive characteristics

• Selective attention

  • a sufferer cannot divert their focus elsewhere
  • useful in survival instincts, not so when the fear is irrational
• Irrational belief

  • sufferers have illogical thoughts about the phobic stimulus
  • these benefits increase the pressure on the social phobic to perform well in social situations
• Distortions

  • unrealistic thinking
  • the perception of the phobia is biased