L5 - Characteristics of Phobias Flashcards
what are the BEHAVIOURAL CHARACTERISTICS OF PHOBIAS? (APE)
1) (A) Avoidance
2) (P) Panic
3) (E) Endurance
What is the ‘A’ in APE?
AVOIDANCE is when the individual is FACED WITH THE PHOBIC OBJECT and the RESPONSE is to EVADE THE OBJECT
This can INTERFERE WITH THE PERSON’S NORMAL DAILY LIFE
what is the ‘P’ in APE?
The person might PANIC in the PRESENCE OF THE PHOBIC OBJECT.
They might show BEHAVIOURAL CHARACTERISTICS of CRYING, RUNNING, SCREAMING, FREEZING, FAINTING, COLLAPSING or VOMITING
what is the ‘E’ in APE?
ENDURANCE describes how the person may REMAIN IN THE PRESENCE OF THE PHOBIC OBJECT FROZEN and UNABLE TO MOVE
what are the EMOTIONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF PHOBIAS? (FA)
1) (F) Fear
2) (A) Anxiety
what is the ‘F’ in FA?
One of the emotional characteristics of a phobia is FEAR.
The individual might experience PERSISTENT, EXCESSIVE and UNREASONABLE WORRY and DISTRESS IN THE PRESENCE OF THE PHOBIC OBJECT
what is the ‘A’ in FA?
The individual feels ANXIOUS IN THE PRESENCE OF THE PHOBIC OBJECT.
When they encounter their PHOBIC OBJECT the person will feel TERROR and be UNCERTAIN and APPREHENSIVE about what might happen next
what are the COGNITIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF PHOBIAS? (IS)
1) (I) Irrational beliefs
2) (S) Selective Attention
what is the ‘I’ in IS?
The persons THOUGHTS ABOUT THEIR PHOBIA DO NOT MAKE LOGICAL SENSE, and they will RESIST RATIONAL ARGUMENTS THAT COUNTER IT.
For example, someone who is scared of flying will ignore the fact that flying is the safest form of travel.
The person will also have a DISTORTED PERCEPTION OF THE STIMULUS. E.g a person with ARACHNOPHOBIA may believe that ALL SPIDERS ARE DANGEROUS and DEADLY, despite the fact that NONE IN THE UK ARE ACTUALLY DEADLY
what is the ‘S’ in the IS?
SELECTIVE ATTENTION describes how when the person ENCOUNTERS THE PHOBIC OBJECT, they will BECOME FIXATED ON IT because of their IRRATIONAL BELIEFS ABOUT THE DANGER POSED
