Phobias: Characteristics

Question 1

phobia

Answer 1

irrational fear of an object or situation

Question 2

types of phobias

Answer 2

• specific, to an object
• social anxiety phobia, of social situations
• agoraphobia, of being outside

Question 3

behavioural characteristics

Answer 3

• panic, panic attacks, freezing up, crying, shaking, etc
• avoiding the phobia
• endurance, feeling worse in the presence of the phobia

Question 4

emotional characteristics

Answer 4

• obvious persistent fear that causes a physiological response
• anxiety
• responses are disproportionate to the feared object
• anticipation of the stimulus triggers an emotional response

Question 5

cognitive characteristics

Answer 5

• irrational beliefs, believing your in danger when there’s no real threat
• selective attention, only being able to focus on the feared object
• cognitive distortions, distorts perception of the stimulus