psychopathology - characteristics of phobias

Question 1

definition of phobias

Answer 1

• experience extreme fear/anxiety
• activated by object (e.g, spiders ), place (e.g. lifts) or situation (e.g. crowds)
• fear of phobic stimulus often irrational and out of proportion to any real danger

Question 2

behavioural

Answer 2

Act

Question 3

cognitive

Answer 3

Think

Question 4

emotional

Answer 4

Feel

Question 5

behavioural characteristics - AO1

Answer 5

Avoidance
- conscious effort to avoid coming into contact with phobic stimulus

PANIC
- crying/screaming/running from phobic stimulus
- alternatively freezing/fainting

Question 6

cognitive characteristics - AO1

Answer 6

Persistent irrational beliefs
- about phobic stimulus e.g. spider will harm you

Selective attention
- keeping attention on phobic stimulus
- difficult to look away incase of danger

Question 7

emotional characteristics - AO1

Answer 7

ANXIETY
- extreme worry/distress when exposed to phobic stimulus
FEAR
- extreme terror when exposed to phobic stimulus

• feelings of anxiety/fear often excessive/inreasonable
• out of proportion to any real danger