Cognitive characteristics of phobias

Question 1

What is selective attention?

Answer 1

• A person with a phobia will find it difficult to look away and concentrate in the presence of their phobia. They will keep their attention on the phobia which is selective attention.

Question 2

What are irrational beliefs?

Answer 2

• A phobic may hold irrational beliefs in relation to the phobic stimuli.
• Irrational beliefs increase the pressure and intensity on the sufferer to perform well in social situations.

Question 3

What are cognitive disortions?

Answer 3

• The phobic’s perceptions of the phobic stimulus may be distorted i.e. an ophidiophobic may see snakes as alien and aggressive-looking.