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April 2008
Change!
Careers in Psychology
March 2008
Forgiveness
Stress
February 2008
Psychology:
What and When
Critiquing
Websites
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May2008
~ To Your Psychological Health &
Wellness ! |
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Phobias,
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Nature |
vs. |
Nurture |
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Snakes!
Summer weather is upon us here in Fulton and folks
gathered in my neighbor’s yard to see the snake that the season’s first mowing unearthed. We spoke
quietly and gazed with curiosity and awe; and for some
- fear.
Many believe an innate
fear of snakes is a universal fear
related to our biblical beginnings in
the Garden of Eden. Others, however,
debate the idea of innate
fears and provide strong research support for the
position that fears are learned, not inborn. Either way,
as fears go, the top spot on the psychological phobia
list is routinely graced by the fear of snakes.
Psychological phobias are irrational fears that
interfere with our ability to function normally in an
everyday manner. Diagnostically, phobias are listed as
a type
of
anxiety disorder.
A
study conducted by the Discovery Health
Channel found that “phobias are the most common
psychiatric illness among women of all ages and are the
second most common illness among men older than 25.”
In that study, the top phobias for men were (in order):
a fear of being buried alive , heights and snakes; and
for women the top phobias were a fear of snakes, being
tied up and being buried alive. Taphephobia (fear of buried alive), Acrophobia (fear of
heights), Herpetophobia (fear of snakes),
merinthophobia (fear of being tied up), the
variety of phobias
is
mind-boggling:
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Phobia
Quiz
From
Psychology.about.com
Test Your Knowledge of Phobias
Match a specific fear to the correct term
for that phobia. Check your answers at
http://psychology.about.com/library/quiz/bl_phobia_quiz.htm
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A. Acrophobia
B. Xenophobia
C. Astraphobia
D. Bibliophobia
E. Cynophobia
F. Entomophobia
G. Hydrophobia
H. Mysophobia
I. Ophidiophobia
J. Trypanophobia |
1. Fear of heights
2. Fear of snakes
3. Fear of insects
4. Fear of thunder and lightening
5. Fear of injections
6. Fear of books
7.
Fear of strangers or foreigners
8. Fear of dogs
9. Fear of water
10. Fear of dirt and germs
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The development and causes of
specific phobias, as mentioned on the sites, is
complex and likely influenced by brain
chemicals, genetics and traumatic experiences.
As is the case with most discussions of human
behavior, this position emphasizes the critical
role of
nature and nurture. Nature being the
genetic/inherited influences on the traits and
behaviors of an individual and nurture being the
learned/environmental influences on the traits
and behaviors of an individual. It is generally
believed that both play a major role in all
behavioral functions. Research on snake
phobias, however, consistently support the role of nurture
as being the stronger of the two, i.e. a fear of
snakes is learned and not inborn .
Inherent or learned, most phobias can be treated
and treatment options include (anti-anxiety)
medicines,
(behavioral cognitive) therapy or both. Snake
phobias, classified as ‘specific’ phobias are
usually treated with
behavioral therapies. These therapies
have a reputation for being quick and effective
and are conducted as carefully planned
confrontations of the fear by gradual cautious
exposure to the feared stimulus (i.e. object or
situation).
The study of phobias makes
interesting fodder for curious psychologists and
for our everyday lives. I don’t, however,
imagine that any of it matters very much to the
two boys that left the yard pushing the tattered
remains of the snake down the street with a
pointy stick.
Yours in psychology,
Dr. B. |
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Additional Links
What's good
on Google
Important: These are links that I think
are helpful. As with all online
information, use prudence and your personal
good judgment.
For
Guidelines click
Critiquing Websites.
Note: If a link doesn’t work, type the title of the article
into your web browser and after visiting a site, use the back arrow <=
on your browser to return to this page. |
Phobias
Phobias - MayoClinic.com
Comprehensive overview covers symptoms, causes, complications
and treatment of this mental health condition.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/phobias/DS00272/DSECTION=1
Why
you hate snakes
Presents the scientific theory that we are predisposed to
acquire fears of critters that once threatened our ancestors'
lives. 'Evolutionary memories'; Psychologist Susan Mineka and
psychologist Michael Cook; Putting the theory to the test
http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/pto-19920301-000014.html
The Phobia List
A wildly comprehensive list of phobias by Howard Liebgold MD
...
phobialist.com
Mental Health Channel
Phobias. Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) HEALTH & WELLNESS.
Alcohol Abuse ...
http://www.mentalhealthchannel.net/phobias/index.shtml
Nature
vs Nurture
United Way.
VOICES. RESOURCE. DIRECTORY. Of. Local and National Agencies.
Published by. Family Service Society, Inc. 827 Joe Clifton Drive,
Paducah KY: Counseling pp 8-12. Mental Health Assistance pp.
72-74.  |
