1Listen to the audio lecture while viewing these slidesPsychology 311Abnormal Psychology1Phobias2Psyc 311 – Abnormal PsychologyBackground• Derived from the Greek God of fear Phobos• Was painted on shields and masks to scare enemies• Name came to mean dread, panic, fear, fright• Usually individuals with phobias know exactly what they are afraid of.3Psyc 311 – Abnormal PsychologyOverview continued• Fears are out of proportion with reality• Seem inexplicable and beyond their voluntary control• Arousing stimuli tend to be•Animals•Objects•Events• Stimulus does not need to be present to evoke a response• Imagining the situation is enough 4Psyc 311 – Abnormal PsychologySex/Racial differences• Occurs more in females than males• Two times as much• More African Americans than Caucasians or Hispanics• Often begins in childhood or young adulthood.5Psyc 311 – Abnormal PsychologyHow Named or Categorized• Traditionally named with Greek or Latin prefixes• Acrophobia - Fear of heights• Agoraphobia - Fear of open spaces•Today•Not used as much• Now grouped into three categories•Specific•Social•Agoraphobia6Psyc 311 – Abnormal PsychologyHow they Develop• May grow from• Generalized anxiety•Panic attack• When the fear is connected to something specific• May grow progressively broader• Generalization• Fear of snakes to eels to worms27Psyc 311 – Abnormal PsychologySpecific Phobias• Miscellaneous category• Marked by persistent and irrational fear• Is the most common type of phobia• 11% of the population meet the criteria at some point in their lifetime•Examples• Animal phobias – dogs, cats, snakes, etc•Claustrophobia•Acrophobia•Water• Public transportation8Psyc 311 – Abnormal PsychologyDSM• Phobia diagnosis when• There is excessive and persistent fear• Recognize the fear is unreasonable and the person continues to avoid the situation• Distressed of fear situation•Creates problems in •social relations•Work•Carrying out normal routines9Psyc 311 – Abnormal PsychologySocial Phobias• Are less common than specific phobias• Can be as bad or severe• Characterized by • Fear/Embarrassment in dealing with others• Most often person is concerned tremors, blushing, sweating, quavering voice etc. will be detected by others10Psyc 311 – Abnormal PsychologyIssues• May have a fear of eating or speaking in public• Can start in early adolescence• Shyness• Often is mistaken as a phobia• Difference, the person doesn’t experience terror11Psyc 311 – Abnormal PsychologyResults • Have fears of • asserting themselves•Criticism• Rejection• Making a mistake•Others• Tend to be overly involved in work and school• Dismiss success• Also tend to be lonely12Psyc 311 – Abnormal PsychologyAgoraphobia• More common in women than men• Fear of entering unfamiliar situation• Accompanied by panic attacks• 50% of people who suffer from panic attacks go on to develop agoraphobia• Is unlike social phobic who is afraid of scrutiny from others• Agoraphobic is afraid •Of themselves•Of panic attacks• Loosing control in public313Psyc 311 – Abnormal PsychologyExamples• Slight agoraphobia• Will not go to the mall•Extreme• Will not go out of the house14Psyc 311 – Abnormal PsychologyConclusions• Is a very common disorder• Generally is maintained by negative reinforcement• Escape from aversive conditions• Avoidance of potentially aversive conditions• Can be easily treated with behavioral