Psychopathology - Characteristics Of Phobias

Question 1

Behavioural characteristics

Answer 1

Panic, avoidance, endurance, disruption of functioning

Question 2

Avoidance

Answer 2

Response to avoid the phobic option - can interfere with person’s normal daily life

Question 3

Panic

Answer 3

Might panic in the presence of the phobic option = may show behavioural characteristics of crying, running, screaming, freezing, fainting, collapsing or vomiting

Question 4

Endurance

Answer 4

May remain in the presence of the phobic object frozen and unable to move

Question 5

Emotional characteristics

Answer 5

Fear, anxiety

Question 6

Fear

Answer 6

Persistent, excessive + unreasonable worry and distress due to presence of phobic object

Question 7

Anxiety

Answer 7

Feeling terror and uncertainty and being apprehensive about what is going to happen when in presence of phobic object

Question 8

Cognitive characteristics

Answer 8

Irrational, insight, cognitive distortions, selective attention

Question 9

Irrational beliefs

Answer 9

• Thought about object make no logical sense
• resist rational arguments that counter it
• distorted perception of stimulus
• e.g. someone scared of flying won’t listen to the fact that flying is the safest form of transport

Question 10

Insight

Answer 10

• knowing their fear is excessive or unreasonable but find it difficult not to fear the object

Question 11

Cognitive distortions

Answer 11

• distorted perception of stimulus (seeing them in negative way)

Question 12

Selective attention

Answer 12

• when phobic object is encountered = fixated on it because of their irrational beliefs and possible danger

Question 13

Disruption of functioning

Answer 13

• anxiety + avoidance created by phobia might be so extreme it could interfere w persons ability to function socially or at work