Top 7 Prevalent Specified Fears
In the realm of human psychology, phobias – intense, irrational fears – are more common than one might think. These specific fears can range from the well-known, such as fear of open spaces (agoraphobia) or social situations (social phobia), to the less common, the peculiar, and sometimes even the humorous.
One such lesser-known phobia is spectrophobia, the fear of mirrors. For those afflicted, a simple reflection can trigger an anxiety response. Another unusual phobia is chiclephobia, the fear of chewing gum. The mere sight or thought of chewing gum can cause distress.
Then there's hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia, the fear of long words. This phobia, with its tongue-twisting name, reflects the anxiety some people feel when confronted with lengthy, complex words.
In the category of phobias related to specific animals or natural phenomena, we find aerophobia, the fear of traveling by plane. Approximately 3% of the population experiences this fear, with anxiety responses manifesting months before a flight. The fear stems from a perceived risk of accident, instability, lack of control, or feelings of panic during the flight.
Another unusual animal-related phobia is the fear of dandelion seeds, also known as anaxia. This fear, while seemingly innocent, can cause significant distress for those affected.
Other rare phobias include ophidiophobia (fear of snakes), arachnophobia (fear of spiders), cynophobia (fear of dogs), ornithophobia (fear of birds), and ailurophobia (fear of cats). These fears affect between 3 and 5% of the population.
Acrophobia, the fear of heights, is also quite common, affecting between 3 and 5% of the population. This fear can cause anxiety when approaching a viewpoint, climbing to a high floor, crossing bridges, or staying in elevated locations like cinemas, theaters, or stadiums.
Dentophobia, or dental phobia, affects between 2 and 3% of the population. This fear of the dentist can cause anxiety even weeks before an appointment.
It's important to note that to be classified as a phobia, it must produce great interference or a high degree of discomfort in the subject's life. These phobias can lead to anxiety responses such as sweating, tachycardia, palpitations, tremors, dizziness, etc.
These phobias, while they may seem odd or humorous, are real and impactful for those experiencing them. They serve as a reminder that fear can manifest in unexpected ways and can significantly affect one's daily life. Understanding these phobias can help in providing support and treatment for those who struggle with them.
[1] American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing. [3] National Institute of Mental Health. (2016). Specific Phobia. Retrieved from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/specific-phobias/index.shtml [5] Yule, W., & Dar, R. (1994). The Diagnostic Manual of Clinical Psychology (3rd ed.). New York, NY: Guilford Press.
The study of spectrophobia and chiclephobia, two lesser-known phobias, falls within the broader field of health-and-wellness and mental-health, demonstrating that feelings of fear can be triggered by various unanticipated stimuli. Acrophobia, dentophobia, and other specific animal-related phobias, such as ophidiophobia and arachnophobia, are also encompassed by the science of psychology, emphasizing the complexity and diversity of human fears.
