Characteristics of phobias

Question 1

What are the 2 widely accepted systems for diagnosing abnormal behaviours?

Answer 1

1. DSM- Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
   (DSM 5-used in America)
2. ICD - Internal Classification of Disorders
   (ICD 10- used in Europe)

Question 2

Phobia

Answer 2

when an object or situation causes excessive levels of fear and anxiety
* this fear is out of proportion to the danger presented by the stimulus

Question 3

3 main types of phobias

Answer 3

1. Specific phobias- phobia of an object
2. Social phobia- anxiety/fear of a social situation
3. Agoraphobia- fear of being outside/ in a public place. Sufferers are anxious when they are in a situation they cannot easily leave

Question 4

Examples of phobias:

Answer 4

Fear of …
* marriage- Gamophobia
* horses- Hippophobia
* spiders- Arachnophobia
* Dolls- Pediophobia
* dogs- Cynophobia
* thunder and lightning- Astraphobia
* water- Aquaphobia
* heights- Acrophobia
* clowns- Coulrophobia
* snow- Chionophobia
* flowers- Anthophobia

Question 5

Behavioural characteristics

Answer 5

1. Panic
2. Avoidance
3. Endurance

Question 6

Panic

Answer 6

• behavioral characteristic
  instant response such as crying, screaming or running away

Question 7

Avoidance

Answer 7

• behavioural characteristic
  individual is likely to experience physical symptoms such as shortness of breath, shaking/ trembling, muscle tension etc
  to reduce these effects, the individual may do all they can to prevent coming into contact with the feared object- may have consequences for daily life

Question 8

Endurance

Answer 8

• behavioural characteristic
  person chooses to remain in the presence of feared object as an alternative avoidance

Question 9

Emotional characteristics

Answer 9

1. Anxiety
2. Fear
3. Unreasonable response

Question 10

Anxiety

Answer 10

• emotional characteristic
  an unpleasant state of high arousal

Question 11

Fear

Answer 11

• emotional characteristic
  instant and unpleasant response when the individual comes into contact with the feared object or thinks about the phobic stimulus

Question 12

Unreasonable response

Answer 12

• emotional response
  anxiety and the fear is disproportionate to the threat posed

Question 13

Cognitive characteristics

Answer 13

1. Selective attention
2. Irrational thoughts
3. Cognitive distortions

Question 14

Selective attention

Answer 14

• cognitive characteristic
  special attention is paid towards the phobic stimulus, individual is unable to concentrate on anything else

Question 15

Irrational thoughts

Answer 15

• cognitve characteristic
  individual is likely to hold illogical beliefs that have no justification

Question 16

Cognitive distortions

Answer 16

• cognitive characteristic
  holding unrealistic and inaccurate perceptions about the phobic stimulus