Phobias - characteristics and explanation
Psychopathology is the study of mental disorders.
“A psychological disorder is an ongoing dysfunctional pattern of thought, emotion,
and behavior that causes significant distress, and that is considered deviant in that
person’s culture or society” (Butcher, Mineka, & Hooley, 2007)
PSYCHIATRIST - medical doctor specialised in diagnosis and treatment (prescription) of
mental disorders.
PHOBIA
Phobia: an extreme, irrational fear of a specific object or situation.
DIAGNOSTIC CRITERIA
The individual suffers from a persistent fear that is either unreasonable
SIMPLE PHOBIAS
ANIMAL PHOBIAS - dogs, spiders, snakes, rodents
ENVIRONMENTAL PHOBIAS - heights, deep water, storm
SITUATIONAL PHOBIAS - visiting the dentist, flying
BODILY PHOBIAS - blood, vomit, injections
COMPLEX PHOBIAS
More disabling than simple phobias, they tend to develop during adulthood and are
often associated with a deep-rooted fear or anxiety about a particular situation or
circumstance.
The two most common complex phobias are:
agoraphobia
social phobia
CHARACTERISTICS OF PHOBIAS
BEHAVIOURAL COGNITIVE EMOTIONAL
Emotional: how they feel.
Fear is the main emotion associated with the phobia. The fear must be disproportionate
to the threat posed by the feared object or situation.
Psychopathology is the study of mental disorders.
“A psychological disorder is an ongoing dysfunctional pattern of thought, emotion,
and behavior that causes significant distress, and that is considered deviant in that
person’s culture or society” (Butcher, Mineka, & Hooley, 2007)
PSYCHIATRIST - medical doctor specialised in diagnosis and treatment (prescription) of
mental disorders.
PHOBIA
Phobia: an extreme, irrational fear of a specific object or situation.
DIAGNOSTIC CRITERIA
The individual suffers from a persistent fear that is either unreasonable
SIMPLE PHOBIAS
ANIMAL PHOBIAS - dogs, spiders, snakes, rodents
ENVIRONMENTAL PHOBIAS - heights, deep water, storm
SITUATIONAL PHOBIAS - visiting the dentist, flying
BODILY PHOBIAS - blood, vomit, injections
COMPLEX PHOBIAS
More disabling than simple phobias, they tend to develop during adulthood and are
often associated with a deep-rooted fear or anxiety about a particular situation or
circumstance.
The two most common complex phobias are:
agoraphobia
social phobia
CHARACTERISTICS OF PHOBIAS
BEHAVIOURAL COGNITIVE EMOTIONAL
Emotional: how they feel.
Fear is the main emotion associated with the phobia. The fear must be disproportionate
to the threat posed by the feared object or situation.
