Specific Phobia

Simple Phobia is defined as an irrational fear of specific things, objects or situations which provoke an immediate anxiety response. Most often, the phobic stimulus is avoided, although it is sometimes endured with dread. Those with a formal diagnosis of simple phobia experience significant disturbance of normal life activities because of active avoidance, fear, or anxious anticipation of encountering the phobic stimulus. This disturbance must also be present for at least 6 months for individuals under the age of 18.

Factors which might contribute to the development of a phobia include experiencing traumatic events (i.e., being attacked by an animal); unexpected Panic Attacks in the to-be-feared situation; observation of others undergoing trauma or demonstrating fearfulness; and informational transmissions (i.e., repeated parental warnings about the dangers of certain animals or media coverage of airplane crashes).