2. CLASS 29

3. Phobias

7. Any of those scare you? If so, you may have a phobia!

8. - irrational fear of a specific situation or thing - highly focused and conscious Definition

9. Specific Phobias: A few are especially common – they seem to be easily acquired –seen in most cultures there are some cultural variations but some categories are prominent

10. Fear Factor T.V. program highlighting common fears

11. What fears does the T.V. program emphasize? Several traditional categories keep being used i.e., common phobias

12. snakes

13. Insects

14. Eating bugs

15. heights

16. Deep Water

17. Claustrophobia

18. CATEGORIZING PHOBIAS 1.Animals: Insects; dogs; snakes 2.Natural environments Heights, storms, deep water 3.Specific situations Agoraphobia; Claustrophobia

19. 4. Fear of Injury Needles & knives are threats Sight of blood & guts are cues Dead bodies Ghosts, zombies

20. THEORIES OF ORIGIN 1.Psycho-Dynamic Theory –Repressed fears –Symbolic (e.g., snake = penis)

21. 2. Social Learning Theory –conditioned by traumatic experience –sometimes the exact event forgotten –explains cultural differences –examples ?

23. 3. Evolution & Genetics our species has hardwired (prepared) fears most phobias make evolutionary sense BUT genetic variation creates individual differences

24. Can we explain other common fears with evolutionary psychology? The Supernatural: ghosts, etc. Germ phobia Dentists & Doctors Modern inventions: guns, electricity

25. Altogether different? –Agoraphobia –Math phobia –Social phobia –Homophobia

26. Bottom line Most phobias may be hard-wired or at least easily acquired Some phobias may be culture-specific i.e., both nature & nurture play a role