Phobias

Question 1

what is a phobia?

Answer 1

Excessive fear and anxiety in response to an object, place or situation. The fear is disproportionate to the actual threat of the feared stimuli.

Question 2

What are the 3 categories of phobias?

Answer 2

-specific phobia- a phobia directed towards a certain object
-social phobia/anxiety- phobia directed towards social situations
-agoraphobia- a phobia of being outside in general or a public place

Question 3

What criteria must be met for it to be diagnosed as a phobia?

Answer 3

-must cause anxiety immediately (even panic attacks)
-actively avoid situations where they may be faced with their phobic stimulus
-significantly interfere with day-to-day life for more than 6 months

Question 4

What are the cognitive characteristics of phobias?

Answer 4

fixation- a survival advantage so that we react quickly
irrational beliefs- illogical and lack evidence
inaccurate perceptions about the phobic stimuli

Question 5

What are the behavioural characteristics of phobias?

Answer 5

avoidance
panic- cry, scream
show endurance- frozen

Question 6

What are the emotional characteristics of phobias?

Answer 6

anxiety
fear that is disproportionate to the threat