Understanding Psychology (10th Ed)

 PANIC DISORDER 
In another type of anxiety disorder,  panic disorder  , panic attacks occur that last from 
a few seconds to several hours. Unlike phobias, which are stimulated by specifi c 
objects or situations, panic disorders do not have any identifi able stimuli. Instead, 
phobias
Intense, irrational fears of 
specifi c objects or situations.
panic disorder
Anxiety disorder that 
takes the form of panic attacks lasting 
from a few seconds to several hours.
Phobic Disorder
Social phobia
Blood injection-injury 
type
Situational type
Natural environment 
type
Animal type
Specific phobias
Agoraphobia
Description
Example
Fear of places, such as unfamiliar or
crowded spaces, where help might not be
available in case of emergency
Fear of specific objects, 
places, or situations 
Specific animals
or insects
Events or situations in the natural
environment
Public transportation, tunnels, 
bridges, elevators, flying, driving
Blood, injury, injections
Fear of being judged or 
embarrassed by others
Person becomes housebound
because any place other than 
the person’s home arouses 
extreme anxiety symptoms.
Person has extreme fear of
dogs, cats, or spiders.
Person has extreme fear of storms, heights,
or water.
Person becomes extremely 
claustrophobic in elevators.
Person panics when 
viewing a child’s scraped
knee.
Person avoids all social situations and
becomes a recluse for fear of encountering
others’ judgment.
FIGURE 1 
Phobic disorders diff er from generalized anxiety and panic disorders because a 
specifi c stimulus can be identifi ed. Listed here are a number of types of phobias and their 
triggers. 
(Source: Adapted from Nolen-Hoeksema, 2007).
feL82795_ch15_500-541.indd Page 514 8/7/10 3:56 PM user-f465
feL82795_ch15_500-541.indd Page 514 8/7/10 3:56 PM user-f465
/Users/user-f465/Desktop
/Users/user-f465/Desktop

---