Fear is a basic human emotion that everyone experiences. While fear can sometimes be irrational, it evolved as an important survival mechanism that helps protect us from danger. Psychologists have identified 4 main types of fear that people experience: anxiety disorders, specific phobias, social phobias, and trauma/stress disorders.
Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety disorders involve excessive or persistent fear and worry that interferes with daily activities. There are several different types of anxiety disorders:
- Generalized anxiety disorder – Excessive worry about many everyday issues
- Panic disorder – Sudden attacks of panic or fear
- Agoraphobia – Fear of being in public places
- Social anxiety disorder – Extreme fear of social situations
- Separation anxiety – Worry about being away from home or loved ones
- Specific phobias – Irrational fear of specific objects or situations
People with anxiety disorders experience chronic, exaggerated worry about everyday issues and events. The excessive fear and anxiety manifests itself through physical symptoms as well like rapid heartbeat, sweating, muscle tension, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating. Anxiety disorders are estimated to affect around 19% of the adult population in the United States each year.
What causes anxiety disorders?
Anxiety disorders can have a number of underlying causes, including:
- Genetics – Anxiety disorders often run in families
- Brain chemistry – An imbalance in neurotransmitters like serotonin or dopamine
- Environmental factors – Stressful or traumatic experiences
- Medical factors – Some medical conditions are associated with higher anxiety
Often, it is a combination of biological and environmental factors that contribute to the development of an anxiety disorder in a particular individual. Treatment typically involves psychotherapy, medication, or both.
Specific Phobias
A specific phobia is an intense, irrational fear of a particular object or situation. Common phobias include:
- Fear of flying
- Fear of heights
- Fear of spiders, snakes, or other animals
- Fear of needles or blood
- Fear of enclosed spaces
People with a specific phobia will go to great lengths to avoid the object or situation that triggers fear and anxiety. Just thinking about facing the feared object can cause intense anxiety. Specific phobias affect about 7-9% of people at some point in their lives.
What causes specific phobias?
Specific phobias may be caused by:
- Traumatic experiences – A bad incident with the feared object can trigger a lasting phobia
- Learned behavior – Observing others being afraid of something can lead to developing your own fear
- Genetics and brain chemistry – Phobias can run in families
Unlike general anxiety, phobias are connected to a specific cause. But they can be highly debilitating if the fear is severe.
Social Phobias
Social phobia, also known as social anxiety disorder, involves extreme fear and avoidance of social situations. People with social phobia are afraid of being embarrassed, judged, or rejected in front of others. Common situations that trigger anxiety include:
- Meeting new people
- Speaking in public
- Eating or drinking in front of others
- Using public restrooms
- Talking on the phone
- Going to parties or other social gatherings
People with social phobia may experience physical symptoms when faced with social situations, including blushing, sweating, trembling, nausea, or difficulty talking. Social phobia affects around 7% of American adults to some degree.
What causes social phobia?
Social phobia can be caused by:
- Genetics – the tendency to develop social phobia appears to run in families
- Brain chemistry – Certain neurotransmitters like dopamine are thought to play a role
- Poor social skills – Negative social experiences or lack of experience can make social situations more difficult
- Underlying anxiety disorders – Social phobia may develop as an extension of general anxiety
Social phobia often develops in the mid-teens. While most people feel some anxiety in social situations, people with social phobia experience extreme distress that disrupts their lives.
Trauma/Stress Disorders
When fear and anxiety become overwhelming in response to a traumatic or stressful experience, it can lead to trauma and stress disorders such as:
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Acute Stress Disorder
PTSD develops after someone experiences or witnesses a terrifying or deeply disturbing event involving actual or threatened death or violence. Symptoms include flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety, and uncontrollable thoughts about the event.
Acute stress disorder can occur after trauma and causes anxiety, dissociation, difficulty concentrating, and outbursts of anger. It lasts between 3 days to 1 month after the trauma.
What causes trauma disorders?
Trauma and stress disorders are triggered by profoundly distressing events like:
- Military combat
- Violent personal assaults
- Natural disasters
- Serious accidents
- Terrorist attacks
Any extremely stressful situation, especially if life-threatening, can potentially lead to trauma disorders in susceptible individuals. Genetics may play a role in PTSD risk.
Conclusion
Fear can manifest in different ways. The four main types of fear seen in psychology are anxiety disorders, specific phobias, social phobias, and trauma/stress disorders. These types of fear differ in their causes, symptoms, and treatments. But all involve excessive, irrational fear and dread that negatively impacts lives. Overcoming different forms of fear and anxiety is possible through therapies like exposure therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, mindfulness, and medication in some cases.
| Type of Fear | Description | Prevalence | Treatments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anxiety Disorders | Excessive worry about everyday situations. Generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, phobias, separation anxiety, etc. | 19% of U.S. adults per year | Cognitive behavioral therapy, medication, mindfulness |
| Specific Phobias | Intense fear about specific objects or situations. Fear of flying, animals, needles, etc. | 7-9% of population | Exposure therapy, cognitive restructuring |
| Social Phobias | Extreme anxiety about social situations. Fear of public speaking, parties, embarrassment. | 7% of U.S. adults | Cognitive behavioral therapy, exposure therapy |
| Trauma/Stress Disorders | Overwhelming fear caused by traumatic or stressful events. PTSD, acute stress disorder. | 8% lifetime PTSD risk | Exposure therapy, EMDR, medication |