CHARACTERISTICS

• What is a behavioural characteristic?

  how the person behaves when they encounter the phobic stimulus
• what is an emotional characteristic?

  how the person feels when they encounter the phobic stimulus
• what is a cognitive characteristic?

  what the person thinks about the phobic stimulus
• What are the behavioural characteristics of phobias?

  PANIC - eg crying, screaming, running

  AVOIDANCE - Making the conscious effort to avoid the phobic stimulus, eg 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 stimulis , eg someone with social phobia may think everyone is judging them.

  COGNITIVE DISTORTIONS - unrealistic thinking about the phobic stimulis