phobias

Question 1

phobias definition

Answer 1

overwhelming and debilitating fear of an object, animal, feeling or situation - type of anxiety disorder - can think about phobia and experince distress (anticipatory anxiety)

Question 2

behavioural characteristics of phobias

Answer 2

avoidance - freezing or fainting which is triggered by acute/sudden stress - may prevent from executing everyday tasks

Question 3

cognitive characteristics of phobias

Answer 3

characterised by irrational nature of a persons thinking and their resistance to rational arguments about their fear, person recognises their fear is excessive, person may have selective attention to phobic stimulus

Question 4

emotional characteristics of phobias

Answer 4

fear that is persistant, visible, excessive and unreasonable - anxiety and panic about the possibility of coming into contact, emotions can be exhibited in presence of stimulus but also anticipation of stimulus