Phobias

Question 1

What are all phobias characterised by?

Answer 1

excessive fear and anxiety triggered by a particular stimuli

Question 2

What are the following categories of phobia?

Answer 2

Specific Phobia
Social Phobia
Agoraphobia

Question 3

What is a specific phobia?

Answer 3

phobia of an object (animal) or situation (flying)

Question 4

What is a social phobia?

Answer 4

phobia of a social situation (public speaking)

Question 5

What is agoraphobia?

Answer 5

phobia of being outside or in public place

Question 6

What are the behavioural characteristics of phobias?

Answer 6

Panic- crying, screaming, running away
Avoidance- effort to prevent contact with phobic stimulus
Endurance- actively remaining in the presence of phobic stimulus

Question 7

What are the emotional characteristics of phobias?

Answer 7

Anxiety- high state of arousal
Fear- immediate and extremely unpleasant response to phobic stimulus
Unreasonable- anxiety or fear is disproportionate to any threat posed

Question 8

What are the cognitive characteristics of phobias?

Answer 8

Selective Attention- keeping attention on phobic stimulus as it allows us to react quickly to a threat
Irrational Beliefs- unfounded thoughts in relation to phobic stimulus
Cognitive Distortions- perceptions of a phobia may be inaccurate and unrealistic