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The Nature and Origin of Common Phobic Fears

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

Svenn Torgersen
Svenn Torgersen*
Affiliation:
The Norwegian Research Council for Science and the Humanities, Centre for Research in Clinical Psychology, Oslo University, P.O. Box 1039, Blindern, Oslo 3, Norway
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Summary

By means of a twin study an attempt was made to throw light upon the aetiology and nosology of phobic fears. Factor analyses revealed five factors, namely separation fears, animal fears, mutilation fears, social fears and nature fears. The study demonstrated that, apart from separation fears, genetic factors play a part in the strength as well as content of phobic fears. Environmental factors, affecting the development of dependence, reserve and neurotic traits generally, seemed also to be of some importance. It was further demonstrated that phobic fears were related to emotional and social adjustment and this was true to an even greater extent for separation fears.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 134 , Issue 4 , April 1979 , pp. 343 - 351
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1979 

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