Phobias

• What are behavioural (external) characteristics of phobias?

  • Panic (heightened physiological arousal)
  • Avoidance (negatively reinforced)
  • Endurance (heightened levels of anxiety despite extended periods of exposure)
• What emotional characteristics of phobias?

  • Anxiety
• What are cognitive (internal) characteristics of phobias?

  • Selective attention to stimuli
  • Irrational beliefs
  • Cognitive distortions (inaccurate perception of phobic stimuli)