2. Definition of phobia
The word “phobia” is derived fro Greek god ‘phobia’. This god
frightened the enemies . Now this word is used for pathological
fear.
• Meaningless and irrational fear of thing or incident is known as
a phobia. If the person suffering from phobia will experience a
deep sense of dread, and sometimes panic, upon encountering the
source of your fear. The fear can be of a certain place, situation, or
object. Unlike general anxiety disorders, a phobia is usually
connected to something specific.
• The impact of a phobia can range from annoying to severely
disabling. People with phobias often realize their fear is irrational,
but are unable to do anything about it. Such fears can interfere with
your work, school, and personal relationships. If you have a fear
that prevents you from leading a normal life
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3. What Causes Phobias?
Phobias can be caused by genetic and
environmental reasons. Children who have a close
relative with an anxiety disorder are at risk for
developing a phobia.
Distressing events can bring on a phobia.
Exposure to confined spaces, extreme
temperatures, nearly drowning, or an animal or
insect bite can all be sources of phobias.
Phobias are often found in patients with ongoing
medical conditions or health concerns.
Psychologists attach great importance to the
content or stimulus of phobia. They believe that the
things causing a phobia are symbolically related to
individual’s conscious; the stimulus that triggers a
phobia indeed stands for some other incident or
stimulus. Behaviorist give more importance to
individuals behavior than to the original stimulus.
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4. Types of phobias;
• There are 2 types of phobia:
a) Specific phobia
b) Social phobia
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5. Specific phobia
The phobia that arises from a specific thing and is
associated with a particular situation or stimulus is
called a specific phobia. A phobia is named after the
specific stimulus that a person's phobia is associated
with , e.g. the phobia of animals including organisms
from insect to fierce beast or the phobia of natural
environment that includes mountain, valleys, lakes,
rivers, waterfalls, etc.
Many people dislike certain situations or objects, but
to be a true phobia, the fear must interfere with your
daily life.
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7. • Some of the most common specific phobias are:
• Acrophobia: the fear of heights. With this phobia, you will avoid mountains,
bridges, or the higher floors of buildings. Symptoms include vertigo,
dizziness, and an overwhelming feeling that one may be unable to control the
urge to jump.
• Claustrophobia: the fear of enclosed or tight spaces. Severe claustrophobia
can be especially disabling if it prevents you from riding in cars or elevators
• Hematophobia: fear of blood or injury. A person with hemophobia may faint
when they come in contact with his or her own or another person’s blood.
• Zoophobia or animal phobia: is a class of specific phobias to
particular animals,[1] or an irrational fear or even simply dislike of any non-
human animals.
• Hydrophobia: Rabies, especially a set of symptoms of the later stages of an
infection, in which the victim has difficulty swallowing, shows panic when
presented with liquids to drink and cannot quench its thirst.
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9. Social phobia
• Social phobia is also referred to as “social anxiety disorder.” This is
extreme worry about social situations that can lead to isolation. A social
phobia can be so severe that the person can panic over even the simplest
interactions, such as ordering at a restaurant or answering the telephone.
As with all phobias, the person recognizes the fear as irrational, but he or
she cannot seem to do anything stop it. Those with social phobia will
often go out of their way to avoid public situations.
• General social phobia appears in early childhood. Along with it the
individual shows other symptoms that may include depression and
addiction to drugs.
• We keep away from harmful and painful things on the basis of our
knowledge, experience, wisdom and insight. However, the mental patient
fears even harmless things. Abnormal fear is found in adult young men
but its incidence is greater in women and girls.
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11. treatment
• Various techniques of behaviorist method of treatment are effective
in this regard.
• The learning of social skills also helps the individual to overcome a
phobia .
• Psychoanalysis is being used successfully for the treatment of a
phobia and other anxiety disorders.
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