Psychopathology - Characteristics of Phobias

Question 1

define phobias

Answer 1

Phobias are an irrational fearful anxiety response to a specific object or situation.
They are extreme fears that are disproportionate to the actual danger. The fear leads to an avoidance of the object/situation.

Question 2

What are the behavioural characteristics of phobias

Answer 2

• Avoidant/anxiety response - efforts are made to avoid the feared object/situation because they cause high anxiety and this needs to be avoided.
• interference with the ability to function everyday such as with work and socially

eg. can’t go to work because they must pass the fear
eg. therefore they dont go to work

Question 3

What are the congnitive characteristics of phobias

Answer 3

• Recognition of exaggerated anxiety - phobics realise their anxiety levels are overstated.
• selective attention - to the source of the phobia, often when near the phobia they cannot focus on anything else.
• cognitve distortion - the person’s perception of the phobia can often be distorted, E.g. Someone who has a phobia of spiders can see the spider as aggressive

Question 4

list some key points of phobias

5 points

Answer 4

• About 10% of people will suffer from a phobia at some point.
• Females have twice the incidence of males.
• They can be long lasting (often over years)
• Most originate in childhood
• Most people have an insight into their condition (they know it is irrational but cannot control it)

Question 5

What are the emotional characteristics of phobias

Answer 5

• Persistent excessive fear - phobias produce high levels of anxiety
• Fear from exposure to phobic stimulus- an immediate fear response is produced (sometimes panic attacks)

Question 6

define what is meant by emotional characteristic

Answer 6

ways in which people feel

Question 7

define what is meant by behavioural characteristics

Answer 7

ways in which people act

Question 8

define cognitive

Answer 8

refers to the process of thinking - knowing, perceiving, believing

Question 9

What are the DSM-5 catogories of phobias

Answer 9

• specific phobias
• social phobias
• agoraphobia

Question 10

Define specific (simple) phobias

Answer 10

Phobia of an object or situation. Interferes with everyday functioning.

eg An animal, or body part
Flying or having an injection

Question 11

Define social phobias

Answer 11

phobia of social situations

eg. public speaking, using a public toilet

Question 12

Define agoraphobia

Answer 12

Phobia of being in public spaces where you feel escape might be difficult.

eg. crowded public transport