Characteristics Of Phobias - Cognitive, Behavioural And Emotional Flashcards
What is a phobia?
A phobia is an irrational fear of an object or situation.
How has DSM-5 distinguished the groups of phobias:
Specific phobia: phobia of an object, such an animal or body part, or a situation such as flying or having an injection
Social anxiety: phobia of a social situation such as public speaking or using a public toilet.
Agoraphobia: Phobia of being outside or in a public place
What is agoraphobia?
Phobia of being outside
What is a specific phobia?
Phobia of an object, such as an animal or body part, or a situation such as flying or having an injection.
What is a social phobia?
Social anxiety, phobia of a social situation such as public speaking or using a public toilet
What are the 3 behavioural characteristics?
Panic
Avoidance
Endurance
Symptoms of panic
Screaming, crying, running away
Symptoms of avoidance
Avoid facing feared stimulus such as public toilets
Symptoms of endurance
Remaining in the presence of a phobic stimulus causes high levels of anxiety such as flying
What are the 2 emotional characteristics of phobias?
Fear
Anxiety
These emotional responses are unreasonable and disproportionate to the danger posed by the object. The person will start to experience these in anticipation of the feared stimulus as well in its presence.
What are symptoms of fear?
Marked, persistent, excessive and unreasonable fear usually felt through physiological arousal
Symptoms of anxiety
The emotional response to fear, an unpleasant state of high arousal, can be long term
What are 3 cognitive characteristics of phobias?
Selective attention
Irrational beliefs
Cognitive distortions
Symptoms of selective attention
Focusing attention on a dangerous object is an innate skill but is not helpful for a phobic in a non-threatening situation.
What is irrational beliefs
You may believe you are in danger of harm, although the feared stimulus the feared stimulus often poses no real danger to you.
