Question

What are phobias? If someone had an intense fear of snakes, could this simple phobia be a result of faulty learning? Analyse how this phobia could have developed.

Answer 1

Phobias are irrational fears related to specific objects, interactions with others, and unfamiliar situations. If someone had an intense fear of snakes, this simple phobia cannot be a result of faulty learning. It is a specific phobia which is most common. This group includes irrational fears such as intense fear of a certain type of animal, or of being in an enclosed space. This phobia often develop gradually or begin with a generalised anxiety disorders.