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Yuguo Zhang

Student , High School

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Are phobias diseases? And are they inborn or acquired?

Couple days I found a Phobia List website. It accumulated a vast number of the names of all kinds of phobias, even the ones I never thought of. It really got me into thinking that almost everyone has at least one specific phobia, such as for me it's entomophobia, fear of insects, but are phobias considered as irrational or diseases? And where do we get our phobias from, from some memorable moments, or the time we were born?

Topics: Behavioral psychology Medical Phobia
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    Tanka Poudel

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    Jul 27 2012: IN MY VIEW:
    People believe there can be several factors which determine buildup of characteristics in us from birth. There has been a lot said regarding planet alignment and several other things that can have an impact upon us however much has to be verified. Medically speaking, heredity can also have major contribution. Whatsoever conditions specially related with mental state always amaze me. I suspect our perception has a great deal to do with what we think and how we think. Hence major deciding factor can be how our early perception are built upon. Since phobia to me seem linked strongly with our perception I wouldn't consider them a disease but rather a strong belief.
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    Feyisayo Anjorin 50+

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    Jul 26 2012: Phobias are not diseases, but they can degenerate into such.
    They could be inborn, and they could be as a result of some experience that registers negatively in the subconscious.

    If phobias become a form of paralysing fear that results in extreme behaviour, then it could metamorphose into a disease.
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    Debra Smith 200+

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    Jul 26 2012: I think tendencies to actual phobias is inborn but that they are activated by experience. For example while phobia can be used colloquially, I do hate bugs that bite me but i just hate them rather than feel fearful of them or panicked at the thought of the encounter. I still am fully aware that they have far more reason to fear me.
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      Yuguo Zhang 100+

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      Jul 26 2012: Hi Debra,
      I totally agree with your first statement, my fear of insects might be slightly different from your fear of bugs. I kinda panic at the thought of encounter with a giant longicorn, although I always bear in mind that I can stamp him in a blink...
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        Debra Smith 200+

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        Jul 26 2012: I might be fearful of them too, I do not know because we
        do not have them here. IN Canada, we do not have much fear of nature in general because other than winters it is pretty safe here. So thank you for your comment, Yuguo Zhang!. You seem very healthy to me!
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    Chetan Somani

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    Jul 26 2012: i think some phobias are inborn and some are acquired during the course of growth.
    we can get rid of phobia through regular interaction with it.
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