class 28 phobias - irrational fear of a specific situation or thing - highly focused definition
TRANSCRIPT
CLASS 28
Phobias
- irrational fear of
a specific situation or thing
- highly focused
Definition
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
Fear Factor• T.V. program highlighting common fears
What fears does the T.V. program emphasize?
• Several traditional categories keep being used
• i.e., common phobias
snakes
Insects
Eating bugs
heights
Deep Water
Claustrophobia
CATEGORIZING PHOBIAS
1. Animals: Insects; dogs; snakes
2. Natural environmentsHeights, storms, water
3. Specific situationsAgoraphobia; Claustrophobia
4. Fear of Injury
• Spears & knives are threats
• Blood & Guts are cues
THEORIES OF ORIGINS
1. Psycho-Dynamic Theory
– Repressed fears
– Symbolic (e.g., snake = penis)
2. Social Learning Theory
– conditioned by traumatic experience
– sometimes the exact event forgotten
– explains cultural differences
– examples ?
3. Evolution & Genetics
• our species has hardwired (prepared) fears
• most phobias make evolutionary sense
• individual differences also passed on by genetics
Can we explain other common fears with evolutionary psychology?
• The Supernatural: ghosts, etc.
• Germ phobia
• Dentists & Doctors
• Modern inventions: guns, electricity
Altogether different?
– Agoraphobia
– Math phobia
– Social phobia
– Homophobia
Bottom line
• Most phobias may be hard-wired or at least easily acquired
• Some phobias may be culture-specific