Phobias

• Behavioural characteristics of phobias


  • Panic
  • Avoidance
  • Endurance
  • Fight/flight
  • Freezing
• Avoidance


  Negatively reinforced (in classical conditioning terms) because it is carried out to avoid unpleasant consequences.

  Therefore, avoidance severely impacts the patient's ability to continue with their day to day lives
• Endurance


  Patient remains exposed to the phobic stimulus for an extended period of time, but also experiences heightened levels of anxiety during this time
• Emotional characteristics of phobias


  • Anxiety
  • Unawareness that the anxiety experienced towards the phobic stimulus is irrational
• Cognitive characteristics of phobias


  • Selective attention to the phobic stimulus
  • Irrational beliefs
  • Cognitive distortions
• Selective attention


  The patient remains focused on the phobic stimulus, even when it is causing them severe anxiety.
• Irrational beliefs


  May be the cause of unreasonable responses of anxiety towards the phobic stimulus, due to the patient's incorrect perception as to what the danger posed actually is
• Cognitive distortions


  The patient does not perceive the phobic stimulus accurately. Therefore, it may often appear grossly distorted
• Panic


  heightened physiological arousal if exposure to the phobic stimulus