Characterics Of Phobias

Question 1

What is a phobia?

Answer 1

A phobia is an irrational fear of an object or situation

Question 2

What are the different characteristics of phobias?

Answer 2

Behaviourial- ways in which people act
Emotional - ways in which people feel
Cognitive- ways in the which people think, know, perceive, believe

Question 3

What is involved in having a phobia?

Answer 3

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

Question 4

What are the three classification of phobia?

Answer 4

Specific phobia- phobia of an object
Social anxiety/ phobia - phobia of a social situation
Agoraphobia- phobia of being outside or in a public space or in a public place

Question 5

Behavioural characteristic of phobias

Answer 5

Panic - crying, screaming, running away, clinging, freezing
Avoidance- efforts are made to avoid the feared objects and situations to reduce the anxiety
Endurance- remaining in the presence of the phobic stimulus but experiencing high levels of anxiety

Question 6

Emotional characteristics of phobias

Answer 6

•Anxiety- unpleasant state of high arousal that prevents relaxation and positive emotion
•Emotional responses are unreasonable- the emotions are disproportionate to the danger posed by the stimuli

Question 7

Cognitive characteristics of phobias

Answer 7

•Selective attention to the phobic stimulus - attention will be placed on the phobic stimulus once identified.
•Irrational beliefs - an unsupported view of the phobic stimuli.
•Cognitive distortions - an exaggerated or irrational thought pattern around the phobic stimulus.
• Recognition of exaggerated anxiety -conscious awareness that anxiety levels experienced are overstated.