Why do people get phobias?
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Most people can come up with something that is particularly scary to them.maybe they’re scared of spiders — max 15% of Americans have arachnophobia (opens in new tab) —or, as some studies suggest, they are afraid to fly. Affects about 1 in 5 people (opens in new tab).
But why do we experience fears and phobias?
First, it’s important to note the difference between a phobia and a rational response to something fundamentally dangerous or unpredictable.
“A phobia is a fear of a particular situation or object that is out of proportion with objective reality and that interferes with a person’s life,” says psychology professor and founder of the Center for Emotional Health at Macquarie University in Australia. Director Ron Lapee said. , told Live Science in an email. “Most phobias exhibit essentially the same characteristics, differing only in the specific focus of the fear.
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“Common characteristics include avoidance of the feared situation or object, worry or negative thoughts, and physical symptoms in the face of the fear, such as: Heart ratepupil dilation, and increased respiratory rate,” said Rapy.
Most people are vigilant and alert when encountering dangerous situations or objects, but these “realistic” fears often go beyond what most people consider “commensurate with the reality of the situation.” This is when people’s reactions to such scenarios tend to be viewed as excessive or irrational.
According to Rapy, a debilitating aversion to water is an example of a wise and perfectly reasonable “precautionary measure” that, for one reason or another, can turn into a full-blown phobia. Also, some of the most common phobias, such as acrophobia (fear of heights), may actually have arisen due to evolutionary pressure.
“Most of the time, phobias are seen in relation to real, realistic things. evolutionarily For example, you rarely see phobias of electrical wires or sockets (even if they kill you), but phobias of storms, snakes, and spiders are common. , what could kill us in ancient times. ”
However, it is still unclear why fear and caution develop into phobias in some, but not all.
“general hypothesis Phobias are “learned” at an important developmental stage, (usually) early in life (most phobias first appear in childhood). dog), but this is probably the exception, as most people with phobias are unable to report specific traumatic experiences. ”
The psychodynamic theory first explored by Sigmund Freud suggests that many behaviors and fears may be related to childhood experiences. In particularly traumatic cases, memories of these childhood events can be suppressed and, according to theory, can manifest as phobias later in life. Some experts, such as professor Dr. Joel Parris, Proposed (opens in new tab) “There is no firm and convincing evidence for the theory,” suggesting that repressed memories may play a role in the development of phobias for some people, but not for the majority. means that is high.
In fact, a person does not have to have a negative experience to develop a phobia. They may see someone else having a bad experience, or be repeatedly told or shown that something is dangerous. Parents, or people watching movies such as “Jaws” and “Titanic” that present the ocean as both menacing and deadly, could possibly catalyze the development of thalassophobia.
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“Over time, this [learning] Fear can be culturally concentrated around specific animals, objects or situations,” Chris Askew, a lecturer in psychology at the University of Surrey in the UK, told Live Science.
However, it is possible that not all phobias are learned. Some psychologists suggest that certain concerns and worries may actually be innate. This is a concept called “non-associative accounts,” according to a 1998 study in the journal. Behavioral research and treatment (opens in new tab).
” Proponents of this explanation argue that we are genetically predisposed to fear certain things and do not need negative learning experiences,” Askew said.
This idea is still debated, but it seems that people with certain traits are more likely to develop phobias.
For example, people who are “hard-tempered and emotional” are more likely to develop phobias, says Rapy. “Emotional type people are more likely to have various phobias and phobias, including the fear of water.
Kelvin Wong, a clinical psychologist at La Trobe University in Australia, told Live Science in an email. “An example is neuroticism, or the character trait of a person who experiences the world as pain, threat, or danger. Another example is behavioral inhibition, which describes a temperament that is less responsive to new situations.”
According to Askew, phobias and feelings of anxiety can extend to family members. “Some people may be genetically predisposed to developing phobias,” Askew pointed out. Dialogue in clinical neuroscience (opens in new tab) About 30% of generalized anxiety disorders are hereditary.
There is also evidence that a “shared family environment” may be key, with Askew suggesting that “individual experiences are particularly important.”
So, with this in mind, why do people tend to retain phobias for long periods of time, and is it possible to get rid of them?
“Most people with phobias avoid what they’re afraid of, so the phobia probably lasts longer,” said Rapy. Do and keep the fear that way.
“To overcome a phobia, you need to face your fear.” must be confronted systematically and repeatedly.”
“When this is done properly and consistently, phobias respond very quickly. In fact, there are even ‘single-session’ treatments for phobias these days.
The desired end goal, according to Wong, is for “the patient to gradually approach the stimulus of fear and learn that what they fear does not come true.”
Originally published in Live Science.
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