pscychopathology - characteristics of phobias

Question 1

What are the 3 characteristics of phobias

Answer 1

• emotional (feel)
• behavioral (act)
• cognitive (think)

Question 2

What is a phobia?

Answer 2

An extreme fear of an object or situation. the fear is irrational.

Question 3

DSM -5 includes

Answer 3

• Specific phobia
• Social phobia
• Agoraphobia

Question 4

Agoraphobia - give two examples

Answer 4

fear of being outside/public space - where you feel you wont be able to escape. (e.public transport and elevators).

Question 5

Social Phobia - give two examples

Answer 5

fear of social situations (e.g public speaking and social gatherings).

Question 6

Specific Phobia - give two examples

Answer 6

fear of a particular object (e.g spiders or heights)

Question 7

behavioral characteristics (3) - explain each

Answer 7

• Avoidance behaviour (conscious effort to avoid the phobia)
• Disruption of functioning (anxiety + avoidance behaviour can affect everyday functioning).
  -Endurance (remain in presence of the phobic situation but in high levels of anxiety)

Question 8

Emotional characteristics (2) - explain each

Answer 8

• excessive fear
• panic (panic attack) (produces fear response, .g rapid heart beat/dizziness/feeling sick)

Question 9

Cognitive Characteristics (2) - explain each

Answer 9

• cognitive distortions (perception is distorted as you may see the object differently)
• irrational beliefs (a persons thoughts are disproportionate)