A review of the phenomenology, aetiology and treatment of animal phobia and insights for biophobia

Biophobia refers to a fear of living things, which leads alienation from nature. The literature examining the underlying mechanisms and treatment biophobia is sparse. This review aims increase readers' understanding by more extensive on specific phobias, namely animal phobia, as it most closely resembles biophobia. Fear, anxiety disgust play an important role in phobias. Their triggers functions are reviewed context phobia. Theoretical models for phobias suggest that develop because genetically linked behavioural patterns interact with normal development fears environmental factors. Phobias then maintained cognitive mechanisms. Exposure therapy, gold standard override maladaptive stimulus–stimulus stimulus-response associations responsible other Its delivery efficacy reviewed. We recommend readers interested use existing knowledge phobia general treat generate research hypotheses future study. Read free Plain Language Summary this article Journal blog.