phobias Flashcards
what are all phobias categorised by
all phobias are categorised by excessive fear and anxiety triggered by an object place or situation
define phobia
an irrational fear of an object or situation
DSM-5 categories of a phobia
specific phobia
phobia of an object ie an animal or a situation ie flying
social phobia
phobia of a social situation ie public speaking
agoraphobia
phobia of big outside or in a public place
define behavioural
ways in which people act
behavioural characterstics of phobias
panic - a person may panic o the presence of the phobic stimulus ie crying screaming children may scream
avoidance - unless making a conscious effort to come into contact with it , p avoids it in everyday life
endurance - a sufferer remains in the presence of the phobic stimulus but continues to experience high levels of anxiety
emotional characteristics of phobias
anxiety - classed as anxiety disorders but by definition involve emotional response of anxiety and fear. anxiety is an. unpleasant state of high arousal.anxiety can be long term fear is immediate response .
EXAMPLE ARACHNOPHOBIA the ear of spider , anxiety levels increase whenever he is in an area associated with spiders ie garden , genera response to situation , when he sees a spider the response I fear very strong emotional response .
- the emotional response we experience in relation to phobic stimuli go beyond what is reasonable
cognitive characteristics of phobias
selective attention to the phobic stimulus - if a sufferer can see the phobic stimulus it is hard to look away , keeping attention on it gives best chance of reaching quickly to threat but it is irrational.
irrational beliefs - may hold irrational belief to a phobic stimulus ie social phobias can involve beliefs like “I have to sound intellegent” in creases pressure on the sufferer
cognitive distortions - phobics perception of the phobic stimulus may be distorted ie ophidiophobic may see snakes as alien and aggressive looking
