2. Phobias

Question 1

What is a specific phobia ?

Answer 1

Phobia of an object, animal, body pry or situation

Question 2

What is a social phobia ?

Answer 2

Phobia of a social situation

Question 3

What is agoraphobia?

Answer 3

Phobia of being outside or in a public place

Question 4

What are the behavioural characteristics of phobias ?

Answer 4

Panic
- in response to the presence of the phobic stimulus
Avoidance
- effort to avoid coming into contact with phobic stimulus
Endurance
- remains in presence but experiences high level of anxiety

Question 5

What are the emotional characters of phobias ?

Answer 5

Anxiety 
- unpleasant state of high arousal 
Fear
- immediate and extremely unpleasant 
Unreasonable responses
- disproportionate emotional response to the danger posed

Question 6

What are the cognitive characteristics of phobias ?

Answer 6

Selective attention to the phobic stimulus
- struggle to concentrate
Irrational beliefs
- belief increases pressure to perform well in front of phobic stimulus in social situations
Cognitive distortions
- phobics perceptions of the phobic stimulus may be distorted