Phobias

• Phobias (DSM-5 categories)

  An irrational fear of an object or situation

  Specific phobia- phobia of an object (animal) or situation (flying)

  Social anxiety (Social phobia)- phobia of a social situation (public speaking)

  Agoraphobia- phobia of being outside or in a public place.
• Behavioural characteristics of phobias

  Panic- response to presence of phobic stimulus. E.g., crying, screaming or running away. Children- freezing, screaming or tantrums

  Avoidance- avoid coming into contact with phobic stimulus= difficult to go about everyday life

  Endurance- remains in presence of phobic stimulus but high levels of anxiety continues
• Emotional characteristics of phobias

  Anxiety- an unpleasant state of high arousal. Fear is the immediate response when they encounter/think about phobic stimulus.

  E.g. Arachnophobia- anxiety to go in shed, fear when sees the spider

  Emotional responses are unreasonable.
• Cognitive characteristics of phobias

  Selective attention to the phobic stimulus- difficult to look away from phobic stimulus. Attention on something dangerous is useful, but not if the fear is irrational.

  Irrational beliefs- E.g., social phobias= 'I must sound intelligent'- pressure on sufferer to perform well.

  Cognitive distortions- perceptions of stimulus could be distorted. E.g. snakes look aggressive