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Abnormal Psychology

Abnormal Psychology. Phobias. Definition and Causes. Phobia : An extreme, irrational fear of something or a specific situation that poses relatively no danger. A phobia is a form of Anxiety Disorder

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Abnormal Psychology

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  1. Abnormal Psychology Phobias

  2. Definition and Causes • Phobia: An extreme, irrational fear of something or a specific situation that poses relatively no danger. • A phobia is a form of Anxiety Disorder • They are more serious then common fears: Phobias are more severe and interfere directly with the person’s life. • Freudian Theory: A phobia is a form of subconscious defense against an unrelated source of anxiety. • Example: - Father sexually abuses his daughter at a young age. Sunlight was shining through the window during the act. The girl grows up and becomes photophobic (afraid of light) • Skinner’s Theory: Phobias are a result of a negative experience involving the subject or situation • Example: -fearfully close to falling off a high building = Hypsiphobia (fear of heights) • Hall’s Theory: A combination of genetics and rearing environment. • Chemical imbalance in the brain given through genetics. The imbalance will raise the likelihood of the person developing an irrational fear. • Many people diagnosed, claim that they have had the phobia since childhood. Some can recall a specific incident that caused the Phobia

  3. Strange Phobias • Many are confused with a simple fear: • Thaasophobia- Fear of sitting • Trichopathophobia- Fear of hair • Levopobia – Fear of objects on the left side of the body • Lanchanophobia – Fear of vegiatbles • Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia- Fear of long words • Geumaphobia – Fear of taste • Genuphobia – Fear of knees • Arachibutyrophobia – Fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of the mouth • Allodoxaphobia- Fear of opinions • Androphobia- Fear of men. • Aurophobia- Fear of gold.

  4. Symptoms Physical Mental • Shaking • Excessive sweating • Nausea • Dizziness • Hyperventilating • Chest pain • Freezing • Slurring of words • Fleeing of area/situation • Catastrophizing • Focusing on the negative • Exaggerating • Over generalizing • Thinking “black and white” -around 7% of North Americans have some form of Phobia, but only around 5% are diagnosed and receiving treatment. - Phobic people can usually blend in with society by avoiding their phobia. The only way their specific phobia will show is if they are put into a situation that they can not retreat from.

  5. Treatments • Hypnosis: Attempting to connect with the unconscious mind. (Freudian) This brings the issue to the surface so it can be confronted and dealt with. • Exposure: Facing your Phobia in a therapeutic way. This can mean the patient is restrained and the object or situation is introduced to them at their own pace, showing that it is not life threatening. • Modeling: Patient observes others in the presence of the object or in the situation. • Medication: If there is a chemical imbalance in the brain, some forms of medication can treat a phobia. • Anti-depressant pills –such as the well known “Prozac” • benzodiazepines (benzos)-considered a mild tranquilizer so it is not for long term use. • A combination of medication with other forms of treatment can increase the chances of success.

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