definitions

• Phobias

  = an irrational fear of an object or situation.

  -all phobias are characterised by excessive fear and anxiety, triggered by an object, place or situation.

  The extent of the fear is out of proportion to any real danger presented by the phobic stimulus.
• Behavioural characteristics of phobias

  -feel high levels of anxiety and trying to escape, the level of fear is irrational.

  • panic= crying, screaming, running away, freezing, clinging, tantrums.
  • avoidance= effort to prevent coming into contact with phobic stimulus.
  • endurance= the person chooses to remain in the presence of the phobic stimulus.
• Emotional characteristics of phobias

  -anxiety= phobias are classed as anxiety disorders- they involve an emotional response of anxiety, an unpleasant state of high arousal. Prevents a person relaxing or experiencing positive emotion.

  • fear= the immediate and extremely unpleasant response when we encounter or think about a phobic stimulus. More intense than anxiety but shorter lasting.
  • emotional response is unreasonable= the anxiety or fear is much greater and disproportionate to any threat posed.
• Cognitive characteristics of phobias

  =process information about phobic stimuli differently.

  • selective attention to the phobic stimulus= keeping our attention on something really dangerous is a good thing as it gives us the best chance of reacting quickly to a threat, not useful when fear is irrational.
  • irrational beliefs= may hold unfounded thoughts in relation to phobic stimuli.
  • cognitive distortions= perceptions of person with a phobia may be inaccurate and unrealistic.