Phobias

Question 1

What is meany by phobia

Answer 1

-Irrational fear of object/situation
-all phobias characterised this way -extent of fear is way out of proportion to any real danger from phobic stimulus

Question 2

What are categories of phobias

Answer 2

Specific - of object/situation
Social anxiety - public speaking , toilets
Agoraphobia - outside / public space

Question 3

Whats meant by behavioural characteristics of phobias

Answer 3

-respond w/ high anxiety
-try escape
-fear out of proportion to stimulus

Eg panic, avoidance, endurance

Question 4

Describe the behavioural characteristics of phobias

Answer 4

Panic
-crying, screaming, running away
-children may react by freezing , clinging , tantrum

Avoidance
-effort to not come into contact with stimulus
-interfere w lifestyle

Endurance
-alternative to avoidance, remain in presence
-eg someone w arachnophobia may keep eye on spider

Question 5

Describe the emotional characteristics of phobias

Answer 5

Anxiety
-unpleasant
-hard to relax
-can be long term

Fear
-immediate ,v unpleasant
-more intense but shorter than anxiety

Unreasonable
-disproportionate to any threat posed

Question 6

Describe cognitive characteristics of phobias

Answer 6

Process info of phobic stimuli diff than other objects / situations

Selective attention to stimulus
-keep attention on gives best chance of reacting quickly

Irrational beliefs
-unfounded thoughts , no basis in reality
-social phobias ‘must always sound intelligent’ -> incr pressure to perform well

Cognitive distortions
-perceptions inaccurate/unrealistic