Phobias are learned and do not form spontaneously. This learning can take place in three main ways...Traumatic Conditioning where for example, someone is attacked by a vicious dog could develop a fear of all dogs. At the height his psyche learned the lesson that all dogs are dangerous. Another way that phobias can develop is through vicarious learning where you watch someone else experience a trauma. Being in the presence of someone who is being attacked by a dog could trigger the same kind of trauma experience as if you were attacked yourself. Another way that phobias can be developed is through social learning. Someone raised in a household where one or both parents had an intense fear of dogs could develop cynophobia (fear of dogs) by hearing stories of how dangerous dogs are. There are other risk factors and protective features that can mitigate or develop the fear of dogs. Our genetics, experiences, and environments can tip the scale toward or away from the development of a phobia. For example a person who has always had dogs as pets has decades of safe learning from which he or she establishes the thoughts that dogs are generally harmless. This safe learning can act as a buffer against developing a phobia if he or she is attacked.
There are many uncommon phobias which are too numerous and rare to be mentioned here; for example: fear of birds, cats, water, being watched, and needles to name a few.
What do you do if you have a phobia? I will talk about that more in my next blog. If you are concerned or wondering if you do have a phobia and whether or not hypnosis might be a solution, please feel free to contact me at holtadams2002@yahoo.com or 361.442.9590.