Common Name(s):
Irrational Fear Disorder
Alternative Names & Classifications:
Specific Phobia (CLINICAL), Specific Phobic Disorder (CLINICAL)
Description
Specific phobia is characterized by an intense, irrational fear of particular triggers such as heights, animals, or receiving injections. It affects a large portion of the population and often originates from direct traumatic conditioning or observational learning during childhood. The fear response is typically immediate and mediated by rapid amygdala activation bypassing higher cortical processing.