2. CLASS 28

3. Phobias

6. - irrational fear of a specific situation or thing - highly focused Definition

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

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

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

10. snakes

11. Insects

12. Eating bugs

13. heights

14. Deep Water

15. Claustrophobia

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

17. 4. Fear of Injury Spears & knives are threats Blood & Guts are cues

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

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

21. 3. Evolution & Genetics our species has hardwired (prepared) fears most phobias make evolutionary sense individual differences also passed on by genetics

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

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

24. Bottom line Most phobias may be hard-wired or at least easily acquired Some phobias may be culture-specific