Combining popular appeal with accessibly written entries suitable for research projects, this fascinating encyclopedia provides a thorough introduction to the psychological and scientific aspects of phobias.Many people have irrational fears. Phobias affect about 19 million Americans each year. So is fear "normal"? At what point do fears become clinical phobias? Phobias: The Psychology of Irrational Fear is the definitive volume on a broad range of topics related to fears and phobias. After an introduction to the subject of fear and phobias, the encyclopedia presents approximately 200 A-Z, cross-referenced entries that address phobias from a variety of angles-types of fears, root causes, physiological and psychological effects, classification, and treatments.The work presents accurate, authoritative, and up-to-date information based on scientific evidence. The majority of the numerous contributors are anxiety disorder researchers and clinicians who possess cutting-edge knowledge of their areas of expertise. Ideal for both high school students and general audiences, readers will be engaged by high-interest content that not only details and explains various phobias but enables them to trace the history, theories, and practices associated with the study and treatment of phobias.

Phobias are the most prevalent mental disorder in both adults and children.

AcknowledgmentsIntroductionEntriesAcarophobia (Imagined Infestation)Acrophobia (Fear of Heights)Age of OnsetAgliophobia (Fear of Pain)Agoraphobia (Fear of Panic-Like Symptoms)Ailurophobia (Fear of Cats)American Psychiatric AssociationAmerican Psychological AssociationAmygdalaAntony, Martin M. (1964- )Anxiety and Depression Association of AmericaAnxiety and Related DisordersAnxiety and Related Disorders Interview ScheduleAnxiety SensitivityApiphobia (Fear of Bees)Applied RelaxationApplied TensionAquaphobia (Fear of Water)Arachnophobia (Fear of Spiders)Association for Behavioral and Cognitive TherapiesAstraphobia (Fear of Thunder and Lightning)AttentionAtychiphobia (Fear of Failure)AversionsAviophobia (Fear of Flying)Bandura, Albert (1925- )Barlow, David H. (1942- )Beck, Aaron T. (1921- )Behavior TherapyBehavioral Approach TestBehavioral ExperimentBehavioral ModelBenzodiazepinesBeta-BlockersCarbon Dioxide Challenge TestChildhood, Phobias inChronicityClassical ConditioningClassificationClaustrophobia (Fear of Enclosed Spaces)Cognitive Behavioral TherapyCognitive Bias ModificationCognitive ModelCognitive RestructuringCognitive TherapyComorbidityContingency ManagementCortisolCraske, Michelle G.Cultural DifferencesCynophobia (Fear of Dogs)D-CycloserineDifferential DiagnosisDisease-Avoidance ModelDisgust SensitivityDistractionDSM-5Dysmorphophobia (Fear of Deformity)Ellis, Albert (1913-2007)Emetophobia (Fear of Vomiting)Emotional Processing TheoryEntomophobia (Fear of Insects)Erotophobia (Fear of Sex)Erythrophobia (Fear of Blushing)Evolution, Role ofExposure, ImaginalExposure, In VivoExposure, InteroceptiveExposure TreatmentExtinctionEye Movement Desensitization and ReprocessingEysenck, Hans J. (1916-1997)Fainting ResponseFearFear, Animal Models ofFear, Neural Pathways ofFear, Physiology ofFear, Return of (Relapse)Fear GeneralizationFear of DrivingFear of GermsFear of Strangers (Stranger Anxiety)Fear of SuccessFear of the UnknownFear Survey ScheduleFear-Potentiated StartleFight-or-Flight ResponseFloodingFoa, Edna B. (1937- )Freud, Sigmund (1856-1939)Gamma-Aminobutyric AcidGender DifferencesGuided Mastery TherapyHabituationHypnosisHypochondriasisHypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) AxisIatrophobia (Fear of Doctors)Implosive TherapyInformation-Processing BiasesInternational Classification of DiseasesJones, Mary Cover (1897-1987)Lang, Peter J. (1930- )Learning TheoryLifespan, Phobias across theLimbic SystemMarks, Isaac M. (1937- )Medical Student SyndromeMemoryModelingMusophobia (Fear of Mice)National Institute of Mental HealthNeuroimagingNon-Associative ModelNosophobia (Fear of Disease or Illness)Nyctophobia (Fear of the Dark)Obsessive-Compulsive DisorderOllendick, Thomas H. (1945- )One-Session TreatmentOperant ConditioningOphidiophobia (Fear of Snakes)Ornithophobia (Fear of Birds)Öst, Lars-GöranPanic AttacksPanic DisorderPavlov, Ivan (1849-1936)Perceived ControlPerception, VisualPersonalityPhobia, Animal TypePhobia, Blood-Injection-Injury TypePhobia, ChokingPhobia, DentalPhobia, Natural Environment TypePhobia, Other TypePhobia, SchoolPhobia, Situational TypePhobia, SpecificPhobia TypesPhobias, Assessment ofPhobias, Causes ofPhobias, Diagnosis ofPhobias, Family Influences on the Development and Maintenance ofPhobias, Genetics ofPhobias, History ofPhobias, Impairment Related toPhobias, Life-ThreateningPhobias, Prevalence ofPhobias, Social and Economic Impact ofPhobias in Popular CulturePhobic BeliefsPhobic NeurosisPosttraumatic Stress DisorderPreparedness TheoryPsychiatryPsychoanalysisPsychoeducationPsychologyPtophobia (Fear of Falling)Rachman, Jack (1934- )Reciprocal InhibitionRisk FactorsRothbaum, Barbara O.Safety BehaviorSelective Serotonin Reuptake InhibitorsSelf-Efficacy TheorySkinner, B. F. (1904-1990)Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia)Social Learning TheorySocial Skills TrainingStructured Clinical Interview for DSM DisordersSubjective Units of Distress ScaleSubstance UseSuicideSystematic DesensitizationTemperamentTest AnxietyThanatophobia (Fear of Death)Thorndike, Edward L. (1874-1949)Three Pathways TheoryTreatment, Evidence-BasedTreatment, MedicationTreatment, PsychologicalTreatment, Self-HelpTreatment Outcome, Predictors ofTreatment SeekingTripartite Model of FearTriskaidekaphobia (Fear of the Number 13)Trypophobia (Fear of Holes)Twin StudiesTwo-Factor Theory of Avoidance LearningVideo FeedbackVirtual Reality TreatmentWatson, John B. (1878-1958)Wolpe, Joseph (1915-1997)World Health OrganizationList of Editors and ContributorsAbout the EditorsIndex