psychopathology - phobias

Question 1

define phobias

Answer 1

an irrational fear of an object or situation.

Question 2

what dose the DSM-5 say about phobias

Answer 2

the fear is out of proportion to any real danger presented by the phobic stimulus.

Specific phobia
Social anxiety
Agoraphobia

Question 3

what are the behavioural characteristics of Phobias

Answer 3

panic: crying, screaming or running away

avoidance: prevent contact with the phobic stimulus

endurance: remaining with the phobic stimulus and continuing to experience anxiety

Question 4

what are the emotional characteristics

Answer 4

Anxiety: an unpleasant state of high arousal

Fear: immediate and extremely unpleasant response

Emotional response is unreasonable: fear is disproportionate to any threat posed

Question 5

what are cognitive characteristics

Answer 5

selective attention to phobic stimulus: finds it hard to look away from the phobic stimulus

irrational beliefs: person may hold unfounded thoughts in relation to phobic stimuli

cognitive distortion: perceptions of a person with a phobia may be inaccurate and unrealistic.