TITLE

Debate Rages After Woman Told to Remove ‘Distressing’ Spider Jewelry Over Worker’s Fears

DESCRIPTION

While this may seem like a silly article and a fun read, it illustrates the problems of those with intense fears and/or phobias which in this case is arachnophobia.  A worker wearing a piece of costume jewelry in the shape of a spider came under criticism from another worker who had an intense fear even though this was a decoration.  The article tells a bit more of the office story and how it unfolded.  “According to Medical News Today, some of the symptoms of arachnophobia are similar to those of a panic attack and include dizziness, nausea, sweating, shaking, increased heart rate, struggling to breathe and fainting.  To help deal with the phobia the site suggests exposure therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or hypnotism.”

See the Psychology Updates (November 8, 2021) for which provide a more in-depth discussion of arachnophobia and the Phobys App for dealing with phobias.

SOURCE

Newsweek, October 18, 2021, by Lydia Veljanovski

LINK TO RESOURCE

https://www.newsweek.com/woman-remove-spider-brooch-colleague-phobia-debate-1639839

(Tiny URL)  https://tinyurl.com/9huz6sum

CLASS DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

•What is arachnophobia?

•How did the situation evolve from one of personal decoration (jewelry) to a phobia trigger event?

•Suppose you were the psychologist called in a a consultant.  How would you explain how a piece of jewelry could become a fear stimulus? (a conditioning explanation) And further what therapeutic recommendations would you make for the individual who experiences the phobia?