IGNOU Post B. SC. Nursing entrance -2021
Applied Psychology
Easy
An irrational fear of places, objects and situations is called?
Appeared in: IGNOU Post B. SC. Nursing entrance -2021
Explanation
- A phobia is defined as an excessive and irrational fear of a specific object, circumstance, or situation.
- The fear is out of proportion to the actual threat posed by the stimulus.
- This intense fear leads to active avoidance of the phobic object or situation, or it is endured with intense distress.
- The question's description of an 'irrational fear of places, objects and situations' directly matches the clinical definition of a phobia.
Why Other Options Were Wrong
- Option B: Anxiety is a more generalized feeling of dread, worry, or apprehension that is often not tied to a specific object or situation. Phobias are, by definition, specific.
- Option C: Stress is the body's response to a demand or pressure (a stressor). While a phobic situation can cause stress, stress itself is the response, not the irrational fear.
- Option D: An obsession refers to recurrent and persistent thoughts, urges, or images that are intrusive and unwanted. While obsessions can cause anxiety, they are distinct from phobic fears.
Related Visual
Clinical Relevance
- Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Definition and differentiation of phobia from other psychological concepts like anxiety, stress, and obsession as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
- Nurses frequently encounter patients with phobias that can impact care. For example, a patient with claustrophobia may refuse an essential MRI scan, or a patient with trypanophobia (fear of needles) may resist IV insertion or blood draws.
- Recognizing a phobia allows the nurse to implement strategies to reduce anxiety, such as providing clear explanations, offering anxiolytic medication as prescribed, or using distraction techniques.
- What if? If a patient expresses a fear of needles but does not actively avoid them and reports only mild nervousness, this is more likely classified as situational anxiety rather than a true phobia, which involves intense fear and avoidance.
How to Approach the Question
- First, analyze the keywords in the question stem: 'irrational fear,' 'places,' 'objects,' and 'situations.'
- The term 'irrational fear' is the most critical clue, pointing towards a response that is disproportionate to the actual danger.
- The mention of specific triggers ('places, objects, situations') helps narrow down the answer.
- Evaluate each option against this definition.
- Phobia directly matches the description of an irrational fear of a specific stimulus.
- Anxiety is too general, stress is a response to pressure, and obsession relates to thoughts, not fears of external things. Therefore, phobia is the most precise answer.
Concept Tested & Keywords
- Concept Tested: Definition and differentiation of phobia from other psychological concepts like anxiety, stress, and obsession.
- Stem keywords: irrational fear, places, objects, situations
- Lead-in keywords: is called
- Negative lead-in flag: false
Question ID
Qls3oqzLXJ5mQ0Yck-JVq6
Reference Book
E6 Kaplan Sadock's Synopsis of Psychiatry-2022 (pp 1-3768 of 3768) pp. 1290-1292, 1292-1294
E6 Guide to Mental Health & PSYCHIATRIC NURSING R Sreevani— Part 1 (pp 26-289 of 579) p. 233-235
Practise the full IGNOU Post B. SC. Nursing entrance -2021
Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.
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