Phobias

Question 1

What is a Phobia

Answer 1

An irrational fear of an object or situation

Question 2

What does Behavioural mean

Answer 2

Ways in which people act

Question 3

What does Emotional mean

Answer 3

Ways in which people feel

Question 4

What does it mean by cognitive

Answer 4

Refers to the process of thinking

Question 5

What are the behavioural characteristics of phobias (3)

Answer 5

Avoidance: Physically adapting normal
behaviour to avoid phobic objects. (E.g.
crossing the street)

Panic: An uncontrollable physical
response, and it’s most likely to happen
at the sudden appearance of the phobic
object (e.g. screaming, hyperventilating,
running)

Failure to function: Difficulty taking part
in activities required to perform a
normal life (e.g. going to
work/education/social events)

Question 6

What are the emotional characteritsics of phobias (2) and give an example of how anxiety affects phobias

Answer 6

Anxiety: An uncomfortably high and
persistent state of arousal, making it
difficult to relax. Heightened anxiety
when the individual is likely to encounter
the phobia.

Matt has a phobia of spiders. his anxiety levels will increase whenever he enters a place associated with spiders-when he sees a spider he experineces fear

Fear: An intense emotional state linked
to the fight-or-flight response, a
sensation of extreme and unpleasant
alertness in the presence of the phobia
that only subsides when the phobic
object is removed.

Question 7

Define special phobia

Answer 7

Fear of an object such as an animal or body part or a situation such as flying or having an injection

Question 8

Define social phobia

Answer 8

Fear of a social situation such as public speaking or using a public toilet

Question 9

Define agoraphobia

Answer 9

Fear of being outside or in a public place