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 environments Heights, storms, water 3.Specific situations Agoraphobia; 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