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Summary AQA Psychology, phobias.
Comprehensive study notes on AQA Psychology topic of phobias. Can easily be turned into flashcards for effective revision. Includes practice questions at the end of the document.
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PhobiasDefinition
- An irrational fear of an object
or situation.
- Specific phobia- phobia of a
specific object or situation.
- Social anxiety- phobia of a
social situation.
- Agoraphobia- phobia of
being outside or in a public
space.
Behavioural characteristics of
phobias
- Panic- Response to phobic
stimulus.
→ Behaviours include crying, screaming or running away.
- Avoidance- Sufferer makes an effort to avoid coming into contact
with phobic stimulus.
→ E.g. someone with a fear of public toilets may limit the time
spent outdoors to avoid using a public toilet.
→ Can interfere with daily life.
- Endurance- Opposite to avoidance, sufferer remains in presence of
phobic stimulus but maintains high levels of anxiety.
→ E.g. fear of flying- sufferer stays on plane.
Emotional characteristics
- Anxiety- Phobias are anxiety disorders, which elicit an unpleasant
state of high arousal which can be long term.
→ Prevents sufferer from relaxing.
- Emotional responses are unreasonable
→ E.g. arachnophobia may elicit a very strong emotional
response to a tiny, harmless spider.
→ This is disproportionate to the danger posed.
Cognitive characteristics
- Selective attention to phobic stimulus
→ If a sufferer sees a phobic stimulus, they will not be able to
look away- seeing the ‘threat’ allows them to react quickly.
→ E.g. Pogonophobia- sufferer will not be able to concentrate if
there is someone with a beard in the room.
- Irrational beliefs
→ Irrational beliefs in relation to phobic stimuli.
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