spider phobia

a persistent and irrational fear of spiders. Situations in which spiders may be encountered are often avoided or else endured with intense anxiety or distress. In DSM–IV–TR and DSM–5, spider phobia is classified as a specific phobia, animal type. Also called arachneophobia; arachnophobia. See also animal phobia.

Browse dictionary by letter

a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

Psychology term of the day

January 13th 2025

discontinuity hypothesis

in Gestalt psychology, the viewpoint that emphasizes the role of sudden insight and perceptual reorganization in successful discrimination learning and problem solving. According to this view, a correct answer is only recognized when its relation to the issue as a whole is discovered. Also called discontinuity theory. Compare continuity hypothesis. See also aha experience; all-or-none learning; eureka task.