Describing all Phobias, but Particularly Coulrophobia and Monophobia

Introduction

In this paper I will be describing phobias and fear, but more specifically coulrophobia (the fear of clowns) and Monophobia (the fear of being alone). I also will describe possible causes of phobias, the history of phobias, how fear is helpful in small amounts, what fear does to someone and how to defeat it. Fear is present in all people but some more than others and I would like to know why. The definition of a phobia is “an extreme or irrational fear of or aversion to something”. Phobias are never simple and often do not have a simple answers or cures, but there are ways of dealing with phobias. There are some treatments that can help you get over your fears. Phobias are not easy to get into without getting into very complex psychological science, but in this paper I will will give the basics as to understanding it and understanding fear.

Causes:

Causes of fear and phobias are difficult to identify due to there often irrational manner. However some phobias can be linked to traumatic childhood experiences. It is very likely that if when you were young, you got lost or separated from you family for any length of time, you will grow up a bit more cautious about getting lost, but whether or not this becomes a phobia is not always obvious. Phobia may also develop due to media or movies and films. for example, if everywhere you turn there are movies about killer clowns, you may double check what you previously thought about clowns. There are other causes of fear and phobias but they are not as easily defined or specified. This may be because there isnt a huge difference between someone who has many phobias and someone who doesn't. One of these more subtle causes for a phobia may be genetics. There is no one cause for...

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...arrying water back from the river. Only now, we're carrying a wallet and walking down city streets. The decision not to take that shortcut through the deserted alley at midnight is based on a rational fear that promotes survival.”-Layton, J. How Fear Works.

Works Cited

The Fear of Clowns?. (2012, January 1). . Retrieved , from http://www.coulrophobiafacts.com/

Qinion, M. (1996, January 1). Coulrophobia. . Retrieved January 1, 2014, from http://www.worldwidewords.org/weirdwords/ww-col2.htm

The fear of being alone. (n.d.). . Retrieved January 1, 2014, from http://www.anxietycare.org.uk/docs/fear_of_being_alone.asp

Korgeski, G. (2009, May 28). The history of phobias. . Retrieved May 6, 2014, from http://hiperfdiy.wordpress.com/2012/05/28/the-history-of-phobias/

Layton, J. (n.d.). How fear works. . Retrieved , from http://science.howstuffworks.com/life/fear.htm