For example, let’s say, arachnophobia.
I’m pretty sure a lot of people are more or less a bit afraid of arachnids. Then at what point does this phenomenon count as “arachnophobia”? How does the effect of seeing images and videos differ from seeing them IRL? Do arachnophobic people react uncontrollably in some way in these situations?
Same logic applies to other types of phobias such as megalophobia or trypophobia etc.
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It is an irrational fear that you cannot control. You are/were presumably afraid of dark as a kid. But then you told yourself that you should be brave and not be afraid anymore. With phobias, that doesn’t work. Normal mechanisms for overcoming anxiety and fear stop being helpful and you behave irrationally – objectively any random spider can’t hurt you, and you might know that but that in no way helps if you have arachnophobia; you react the same whether it’s a spider on TV or a brown recluse chomping down on your ankle.
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