Hockenbury Discovering Psychology 5th txtbk

540 CHAPTER 13 Psychological DisordersTable 13.2Some Unusual PhobiasAmathophobiaAnemophobiaAphephobiaBibliophobiaCatotrophobiaErgophobiaErythrophobiaGamophobiaHypertrichophobiaLevophobiaPhobophobiaPhonophobiaTriskaidekaphobiaFear of dustFear of windFear of beingtouched by anotherpersonFear of booksFear of breakinga mirrorFear of work orresponsibilityFear of redobjectsFear of marriageFear of growingexcessiveamounts of bodyhairFear of thingsbeing on the leftside of your bodyFear of acquiringa phobiaFear of thesound of yourown voiceFear of thenumber 13In comparison, people with specific phobia, formerly called simple phobia, are morethan just terrified of a particular object or situation. In some people, encountering thefeared situation or object can provoke a full-fledged panic attack. Importantly, the incapacitatingterror and anxiety interfere with the person’s ability to function in daily life.Even though he knows that his fear is excessive and irrational, the person will go togreat lengths to avoid the feared object or situation. Consider the case of Antonio, whohas a dog phobia. He works in a pizza parlor, making pizzas and taking orders. Hecould make more money if he took a job as a delivery person, but he won’t even considerit because he is too afraid he might encounter a dog while making deliveries.About 13 percent of the general population experiences a specific phobia at sometime in their lives (Kessler & others, 2005a). More than twice as many women asmen suffer from specific phobia. Occasionally, people have unusual phobias, such asthe elderly woman that Don knew who was terrified of household cleaning supplies(see Table 13.2). Generally, the objects or situations that produce specific phobiastend to fall into four categories:• Fear of particular situations, such as flying, driving, tunnels, bridges, elevators,crowds, or enclosed places• Fear of features of the natural environment, such as heights, water, thunderstorms,or lightning• Fear of injury or blood, including the fear of injections, needles, and medical ordental procedures• Fear of animals and insects, such as snakes, spiders, dogs, cats, slugs, or batsSocial PhobiaFear of Social SituationsA second type of phobia also deserves additional comment—social phobia. Alsocalled social anxiety disorder, social phobia is one of the most common psychologicaldisorders and is more prevalent among women than men (Altemus, 2006;Kessler & others, 2005b). Social phobia goes well beyond the shyness that everyonesometimes feels at social gatherings. Rather, the person with social phobia is paralyzedby fear of social situations, especially if the situation involves performing evenroutine behaviors in front of others. Eating a meal in public, making small talk at aparty, or using a public restroom can be agonizing for the person with social phobia.Social Phobia About 1 out of 8 adults inthe United States has experienced socialphobia at some point in their lives (Kessler& others, 2005a). Social phobia is far moredebilitating than everyday shyness. Peoplewith social phobia are intensely fearful ofbeing watched or judged by others. Evenordinary activities, such as eating withfriends in a shopping mall food court, cancause unbearable anxiety.