Phobias

what is a phobia

a group of mental disorders characterised by high levels of anxiety in response to a particular stimulus or group of stimuli

what are the emotional characteristics of phobias

fear and anxiety

likely to be excessive and unreasonable

how are the emotions in phobias cued

by the presence or anticipation of a specific object or situation

out of proportion to the action danger posed

what is agoraphobia

fear of being trapped in a public space where escape is difficult

what is social phobia

anxiety related to social situations such as talking to a group of people

describe specific phobias

fear about specific objects such as spiders or snakes, or specific situations such as heights or the dark

what are the behavioural characteristics of phobias

avoidance- avoiding the specific phobia to avoid putting themselves in situations where they may encounter it

this avoidance interferes with the person’s life- distinguishes phobias from more every day fears

freezing or fainting

what are the cognitive characteristics of phobias

irrational nature of the person’s thinking and the resistance to rational arguments

person recognise their fear is excessive or unreasonable- may be absent from children.

what distinguishes phobias from delusional mental illness

person is aware that it is excessive, whereas in individuals with schizophrenia they are not aware of the unreasonableness of their behaviour

what percentage of individuals in the UK have a phobia

2.6%