pboias adis notes Flashcards
Phobias
- An irrational fear of an object or situation.
- Out of proportion with the actual threat posed.
Behaviour characteristics of phobias
panic
avoidance
endurance
Panic
- Crying
- Screaming
- Shaking / trembling / sweating.
- Trying to run away.
Avoidance
- Effort to avoid contact with phobic stimulus.
- Example: public toilet; people will limit liquid consumption or moderate time away from their own toilet.
- Interferes with work, education, social life etc.
Endurance
- Remain in presence of phobic stimulus.
Emotional characteristics of phobias
Anxiety
fear
Emotional response unreasonable
Emotional response unreasonable
- Response is disproportionate to any threat posed.
- Anxiety is overblown compared to the danger of the object / animal / situation.
Fear
- Immediate and extremely unpleasant response to phobic stimulus.
- More intense but shorter period of time than anxiety.
Anxiety
- Phobias = anxiety disorders.
- High state of arousal:
- Elevated heart rate, worry / stress, jittering, sweating.
- Long + short term.
- It is difficult to have positive experience or emotion.
Cognitive Characteristics of Phobias
Selective Attention to Phobic Stimulus
Irrational beliefs
Cognitive distortions
Q: Outline behavioral characteristics of phobias. (3 marks)
A: Behavioural characteristics involve showing high levels of anxiety or the individual trying to escape the phobia. There are 3 types of this, and these are:
- Panic: the individual may cry, scream or shake/tremble.
- Avoidance: the individual will try to get away from the stimulus at all costs, like finding alternative transport methods if they have a phobia or aeroplanes.
- Endurance: the individual would have to remain in the presence of the phobia and may deal with this by asking to be moved away.
Cognitive Characteristics of Phobias definition
- Phobic stimuli processed differently from other information.
