1. Phobias – Discuss in pairs, prepare to share your thoughts
What is a phobia?
Do you have a phobia?
If so, why do you think you have that particular phobia?
What do you think are the most common phobias? 1

2. Most Common phobias

3. Learning Objectives E-D explain what is meant by a phobia C-B
outline the emotional, behavioural and cognitive characteristics of phobias
A-A*
consider the implications a phobia will have on an individual’s quality of life

4. Mental Disorders
Depression, phobias and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) are three of the most common mental disorders.
In 2015 in the UK:
Phobias = 2 %
Depression = 8%
OCD = 2%

5. Which phobias are most common?
Arachnophobia
Social Phobia
Aerophobia (Flying)
Agoraphobia
Claustrophobia
Acrophobia (Heights)
Emetophobia
Carcinophobia
Brontophobia
Necrophobia
Aquaphobia
Hemophobia

6. Phobias
A phobia is an anxiety disorder, which interferes with daily living.
It is an instance of irrational fear
that produces a conscious
avoidance of the
feared object or
situation.

7. 6 months
DSM-V
marked and persistent fear of a specific object or situation
exposure to the phobic stimulus nearly always produces a rapid anxiety response
fear of the phobic object or situation is excessive
the phobic stimulus is either avoided or responded to with great anxiety
the phobic reactions interfere significantly with the individual’s working or social life, or he/she is very distressed about the phobia

8. DSM-5 categories of Phobia
Specific phobia: phobia of an object, such as an animal or body part, or a situation such as flying or having an injection.
Social anxiety (social phobia): phobia of a social situation such as public speaking or using a public toilet.
Agoraphobia: Phobia of being outside or in a public space.

9. Phobias can be divided into 3 Categories
Specific phobias
Social phobias
Agoraphobia
Sufferers are anxious in the presence of a particular stimulus (object or situation)
There are:
Animal types
Natural environment types
Blood types
Situational types
Or other types
This is the most common category
Sufferers experience inappropriate anxiety in social situations
And even just thinking about them can cause anxiety.
This leads to avoidance and can negatively affect their quality of life.
This usually starts in adolescence, no clear trigger
Sufferers are anxious when in a situation that they cannot easily leave (crowds, open spaces).
They will avoid such situations and are extremely anxious if anticipating them.
Most cases begging in early-mid 20s and 1st occurrence can happen without warning in a public place.
Avoid going out leading to serious deterioration of quality of life.
Least common.

10. Specific
Social
Agoraphobia

11. Answers Specific phobias: Arachnophobia – fear of spiders
Satanophobia – fear of Satan
Apiphobia – fear of bees
Arithmophobia – fear of numbers
Social phobias:
Fear of using public toilets
Angrophobia – fear of anger
Fear of public speaking
Agoraphobia:
Enochlophobia – fear of crowds
Fear of going outside

12. What are the characteristics of phobias?
Emotional
Behavioural
Cognitive
What do you THINK about your feared object?
How do you FEEL when you see your feared object?
How do you BEHAVE when you see your feared object?

13. What are the characteristics of phobias?
Emotional
Behavioural
Cognitive
Anxiety
Panic (crying etc)
Selective attention
Unreasonable
Avoidance
Irrational beliefs
Endurance
Cognitive distortions
What do you THINK about your feared object?
How do you FEEL when you see your feared object?
How do you BEHAVE when you see your feared object?

14. What type of phobia is this?
Below are some case studies of phobias.
1. Classify each one as an example of a specific phobia, a social phobia or agoraphobia.
2. For each one, list any behavioural, emotional and cognitive symptoms under those three separate headings.
Remember
a. Behavioural symptoms refer to the way people act.
b. Emotional symptoms refer to the way people feel.
c. Cognitive symptoms refer to the ways in which people think (or process information).

15. Case studies

16. 1.Mary – agoraphobia
▪▪ Behavioural – panic, eventually avoidance (not going out alone).
▪▪ Emotional – fear, anxiety.
▪▪ Cognitive – irrational belief that she is about to die, probably triggered by bodily arousal caused by panic.
2.John – social phobia
▪▪ Behavioural – avoidance.
▪▪ Emotional – anxiety.
▪▪ Cognitive – irrational belief that that he may wet himself or urinate over others.
3.Lucy – specific phobia
▪▪ Behavioural – panic.
▪▪ Emotional – fear, anxiety, high arousal.
▪▪ Cognitive – irrational belief that spiders are crawling under her skin
4.Tim – specific phobia
▪▪ Behavioural – panic, avoidance.
▪▪ Emotional – fear, anxiety.
▪▪ Cognitive – irrational belief that medical procedures will be painful and harmful to his health and wellbeing.

17. Exam Questions
Outline the emotional characteristics of phobias. (3 marks)
Outline the behavioural characteristics of phobias. (3 marks)
Outline the cognitive characteristics of phobias. (3 marks)